Messi: Walcott really worried us, Capello made a mistake

Argentina striker Lionel Messi has said that Theo Walcott's exclusion from England manager Fabio Capello's 23-man squad came as a surprise to him.

Walcott's omission from the team for South Africa was also a surprise to many, with the Arsenal winger having played well in all of England's warm-up games.

Messi also revealed that Walcott's pace was the one quantity that worried Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola when the Catalan side met Arsenal in the Champions League.

He said: "I must say that at the time I thought it was a bad decision to leave Theo Walcott at home.

"And I think that has been proved right. I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against.

"Barcelona players are not scared easily but I can tell you that when we played Arsenal last season he truly worried us.

"When we were playing Arsenal at the Emirates we were so in control of the game at 2-0, with all respect Arsenal were not even in the game.

"Then Theo came on and changed the game. He pretty much single-handedly salvaged a draw against Barcelona that night.

"Even in the return leg our manager Pep Guardiola was telling us he was the player to watch out for.

"And the best players in the world like Xavi and Gerard Pique were telling us to watch out for him. The truth is that he really rattled us.

"If he could do that against Barcelona, think what he could have done against Germany and Algeria. Even if he didn't start he would still have been very important for England.

"Along with Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero he would have been the best impact player at the World Cup."

"Even at the top level, pace scares the world's best defenders. And, take it from me, he would scare any defender.

"When England brought on players I don't think they were at the level to make any impact. But Walcott would have been and I still can't understand why he wasn't taken.

"He is a big-game player as well who rises to the occasion. He scored a hat-trick in Croatia, which nobody ever does and was the star against Barcelona."

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