In, or out? The joy and despair of World Cup squad selection
It is safe to say none of the 55 England players named in Thomas Tuchel's provisional World Cup squad will let their phones leave their sight for the next few hours. Whether they are in or out, by the time the England manager publicly announces his final 26-man selection on Friday, everyone will have been contacted - and told their fate. For some, the shock will be the fact they will be on the plane to the US, Canada and Mexico - for others, it will be hearing how they are staying at home.
From the elation of making the cut to the despair of missing out, BBC pundits Micah Richards, Joe Hart, Theo Walcott and Stephen Warnock share their stories of what it is like to get a call before a major tournament with news that will make or break your summer. And, if you think being told face-to-face is any better, Martin Keown recalls the aftermath of arguably the most famous England squad omission of all. Who is pushing for late England World Cup call-up?
Micah Richards had already missed out on Euro 2008 with England after a dramatic late home defeat by Croatia meant the Three Lions failed to qualify Two days after Manchester City won the Premier League title in May 2012, England boss Roy Hodgson was set to name his squad for the European Championship finals. City right-back Micah Richards had spent much of the past 48 hours partying after his side's famous 'Aguero moment' and now he was expecting more reason to celebrate. "I'd been recalled for England's previous game, under caretaker manager Stuart Pearce, and played against the Netherlands in February," Richards remembered.
"I'd made 23 starts for City that season to help us win the league and one of my rivals for the England right-back slot, Kyle Walker, was definitely out of the tournament injured. "I'd kind of convinced myself I was going to Poland and Ukraine, and I was at home, literally sitting and waiting for the call from Roy... but, when my phone rang, it was Pearce's name that flashed up.
"I thought, 'this is weird, why is he calling me? ' He was my old City boss but also the England Under-21 coach at the time, and I didn't think it would be anything important, just that he would be wishing me luck at the tournament. "Then he says to me, 'Hodgson's not going to pick you'.