London: Former captain John Terry was included in England's European Championship squad on Wednesday despite facing trial immediately after the tournament for racially abusing an opponent.
The Football Association's decision to strip Terry of the England captaincy in February over the alleged racial abuse of Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand led to coach Fabio Capello quitting.
But Capello's replacement, Roy Hodgson, has included the Chelsea defender in the 23-man Euro 2012 squad.
"[The trial] is obviously very unfortunate for him ... But he is innocent until proven guilty," Hodgson said. "I realized when I selected him there would be people who would raise their eyebrows, that's the decision I have made and the decision I will live with. I believe that John Terry, especially in the latter half of the season, has played very well. I selected him because he is the man for the job."
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, the brother of Terry's alleged victim, remains out of the England squad having not playing for the national team since June 2011.
"It is purely a footballing decision," Hodgson said, despite media reports that the pair have fallen out. "I had to decide ... on what I have seen in recent months, and influenced by the fact Rio hasn't played so much [for England] since the [2010] World Cup and has only played for England once in the last year."
Ferdinand won the last of his 81 caps against Switzerland in June last year and has since suffered injury setbacks.
"Rio is a man who I respect as a player, and as a person. I don't know him well personally but I've seen enough of him over the years to realise what a fine footballer he is, what a good person he is," added Hodgson.
Ferdinand, 33, said he was "gutted" by the snub. "Absolutely loved playing for England. To say I'm gutted is an understatement of the highest order," he wrote on Twitter.
Steven Gerrard, who was Hodgson's captain during his six-month reign at Liverpool, will wear the England captain's armband.
"I shall be counting on him to help me ... build the type of team unity and environment we need to thrive in a tournament," Hodgson said, adding that the player he knew well from his time as Liverpool manager merited the "distinction" of captaining England.
England's Euro 2012 opener is against France on June 11, followed by matches against Sweden and Ukraine.
Striker Wayne Rooney is included despite being suspended for the opening matches against France and Sweden after being sent off in England's last qualifier in October.
Hodgson will have to choose between Danny Welbeck, Jermain Defoe and Andy Carroll for his strike force against France and Sweden.
Liverpool's Carroll, signed for 35 million Pounds in January 2011 from Newcastle United, has endured a difficult spell at Anfield, scoring just 11 goals in 56 appearances.
"He [Carroll] is a different type of player to the others in the squad," said Hodgson. "He has that ability to hold the ball up, that aerial ability which is very useful, but also has the ability to make runs behind defenders and use his strength and his power."
Teammate Stewart Downing was another surprise inclusion, with the left-winger having failed to score in the Premier League this season, while Defoe has struggled to break into the Tottenham Hotspur first team despite scoring regularly.
Hodgson said he had pondered long and hard before finalising his squad.
"I won't deny it's not been an easy squad to put together and it's taken a lot of thought. I'm pleased with the result," he said. "It's a well-balanced squad."
Birmingham City's Jack Butland, Everton defender Phil Jagielka, Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, Manchester City winger Adam Johnson and Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge were named on the standby list.
Other notable omissions from the squad were Manchester City defender Micah Richards and Stoke City forward Peter Crouch, who has scored 22 goals in 42 games for his country.
Hodgson has retained 11 members of the squad Capello took to South Africa two years ago for the World Cup and that went out in the last-16.
But Hodgson has given 18-year-old winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has started just six Premier League games for Arsenal, and Norwich's 25-year-old goalkeeper John Ruddy their first international call-ups.
Ruddy has been allowed to miss England's final warm-up match on June 2 against Belgium at Wembley Stadium — so he can go ahead with his wedding.
"It would have been a nightmare after one and a half years of planning to have to postpone the wedding, so it's a major relief that we can still go ahead," Ruddy said.
"It hasn't sunk in yet but I'm absolutely over the moon," he told Sky Sports. "It was quite surreal. I can't wait to get started. It just caps off a wonderful couple of years I've had at Norwich."
England's other warm-up match is against Norway in Oslo on May 26, when Hodgson makes his debut as manager.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Robert Green (West Ham), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich).
Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), Glen Johnson (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Andy Carroll (Liverpool).
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