埃裏克森暗示未上過場的沃爾科特可能會在英格蘭與厄瓜多爾的比賽中上場，他堅稱他對阿森納的這位年輕球員充滿信心，他説道，“我希望你們將會在世界盃上看到沃爾科特，但是我不能做出保證，這得取決於比賽的進展。但是我認為他準備好了，這也是我選擇他原因。”

　　鏈結：http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblwc2006engecuwalcott&prov=afp&type=lgns http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblwc2006engecuwalcott&prov=afp&type=lgns

　　原文：Sven hints Walcott could play a part against Ecuador

　　AFP

　　June 24, 2006

　　STUTTGART (AFP) - Sven-Goran Eriksson has hinted that untested teenager Theo Walcott could play a part in England's last 16 clash with Ecuador, insisting he has complete faith in the Arsenal youngster.

　　Walcott, 17, was a shock inclusion in the Swede's World Cup squad having never played a Premiership match, but has so far been sidelined despite England having only three fit strikers.

　　Eriksson was widely criticised for gambling with Walcott when their were injury concerns over Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen. But he said at a press conference here that he had no regrets.

　　"I hope that you will see Theo Walcott in this tournament but I cannot guarantee it, it depends on the matches and things like that," he said.

　　"But I think he is ready, that's why I picked him.

　　"Of course he has no experience at all on this level but he's a very, very interesting boy."

　　Walcott became England's youngest ever international when he came on as a substitute for Owen in England's 3-1 World Cup warm-up win over Hungary last month.

　　He was just 17 years and 75 days when he took to the field, 36 days younger than Rooney was when he made his debut against Australia in 2003.

　　His elevation was all the more remarkable because he has not appeared in the Arsenal first team since joining from Southampton in January in a deal that could eventually cost the London club 12 million pounds.

　　Eriksson said that even if Walcott did not play in the tournament, the experience of being at the World Cup would prove invaluable to England in the future.

　　"If he doesn't play, and I think he will, this will do very well for him in the next big tournament, extremely well," said Eriksson, who is leaving the job after the World Cup finals.

　　"He has been here and he has learned, it is good.

　　"You see, I am still working for England even when I'm not going to be here."

　　With Owen injured and out of the tournament, England are expected to start against Ecuador with Rooney on his own up front with Steven Gerrard acting as a second striker.

　　It is possible Walcott could come on late in the second-half if England have victory sewn up.

　　作者——韓明冰，北京外國語大學

責編：盧爽