From the BBC: Despite Owen flying home on Wednesday after rupturing his anterior cruciate knee ligament, Eriksson defended his squad and, when asked if Walcott could play a substantial role in Germany, Eriksson said: "I hope so, yes". He added: "It was very difficult to give Walcott a go in the last match because two of the three substitutions were injuries and the third was Wayne Rooney. "I didn't want to put Walcott into that game. I'm not sure it was right and I wanted Steven Gerrard in there."
