Devastated Theo Walcott last night told of his shock at being axed from England's World Cup squad.

The Arsenal star was the big victim as ruthless England boss Fabio Capello picked Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of him.

Walcott, 21, who had just sat his driving test when he heard the shock news he was in England’s squad for the Germany World Cup four years ago, was on the golf course at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire when Capello called.

“He said he was sorry but I hadn’t made the squad and I wouldn’t be going to the World Cup,” Walcott said.

“I wanted to ask him ‘why’ but I didn’t get the chance. He said I would be a big part of his plans for the European Championship in 2012 and that was it.

“I’m very disappointed but I would like to wish the team the best of luck and hope they have a really successful tournament.”

Capello also phoned six other unlucky stars to tell them they would not be on tonight’s flight to South Africa.

Michael Dawson, Leighton Baines, Adam Johnson, Tom Huddlestone, Scott Parker and Darren Bent missed out on the final 23-man party.

Gareth Barry, who has been locked in a race against time to recover from damaged ankle ligaments, was included even though he may not be fit for England’s first game against the USA in Rustenburg on June 12.

Other than Walcott, the omissions contained no real surprises, with Parker and Huddlestone’s final chances of gatecrashing the party ended when Barry passed the rigorous fitness test on his problem ankle at a clinic in Watford.

Dawson was omitted in favour of West Ham’s Matthew Upson, with Baines losing out to Stephen Warnock after a nervy display against Mexico last week, while Johnson was told his time will come.

Bent, who took his call from Capello at lunchtime at his mother Shirley’s home in Cambridgeshire, was told: “Thank you for your efforts. I am afraid you are not going to the World Cup. Keep working hard.”

The Sunderland striker used his Twitter account to describe himself as “gutted” at missing out for the second World Cup.