England Euro 2012 Squad: Ferdinand Omitted as Terry Gets Nod

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has been omitted from Roy Hodgson's England squad for the summer's European Championships.

The Manchester United defender, who has 81 international caps, misses out at the expense of John Terry, who was stripped of the captaincy by The Football Association in February.

Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy have both been handed their maiden call-ups, while Manchester United pair Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones have also selected.

Despite a difficult campaign with Liverpool, Stewart Downing has been included in the 23-man squad alongside team-mate Steven Gerrard.

Wayne Rooney, who misses the first two games of the tournaments, is joined by Andy Carroll and Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe in attack.

The decision not to include Ferdinand is the highest profile call made by England's new manager, with the former Leeds United defender having enjoyed a return to form during the latter half of the season.

Terry's inclusion will also attract attention, with the reasons behind being stripped of the armband during Fabio Capello's reign still fresh, with the Chelsea man still to face charges of the use of racial language.

Despite making only six Premier League starts in his first season with Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain, less than 12 months after featuring in League One for Southampton, has been handed his first call-up.

Canaries stopper Ruddy, who helped Norwich to 12<sup>th in the Premier League, is also in the squad after edging out Bursaspor goalkeeper Scott Carson.

On standby, Jordan Henderson, another whose abject season has contributed to Liverpool's troubles, is a surprise inclusion, while Manchester City's Adam Johnson and Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge are the attacking replacements.

United midfield pair Paul Scholes, who was touted for a return to the international fold, and Michael Carrick have both missed out, as has Aston Villa's Darren Bent, who has missed the last three months with an ankle injury.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Robert Green (West Ham United), John Ruddy (Norwich)

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Young (Manchester United), James Milner (Manchester City)

Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)

Standby: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).