Not following orders cost Theo his place

OUT OF AFRICA: Axed Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.

Theo Walcott was axed by Fabio Capello for failing to follow orders in the wake of a public dressing down from the England manager.

Having been the stunning inclusion for the World Cup in Germany four years ago, Walcott was yesterday the shock omission when Capello named his 23-man squad for South Africa.

The Italian is thought to have lost patience with the Arsenal winger after he failed to respond to instructions he was given when the players sat through a DVD of last week’s friendly against Mexico.

To the astonishment of the other squad members, Walcott was singled out for scathing criticism from Capello for the way he played against the Mexicans.