Three England legends have come together to relive one of the most debated chapters in the nation's World Cup history. Theo Walcott, Jermaine Defoe, and Wayne Rooney reunite to discuss the decisions that defined — and at times derailed — England's campaigns at the 2006 World Cup and beyond.

At the heart of the conversation is Sven-Göran Eriksson's eyebrow-raising choice to include a 17-year-old Walcott in England's 2006 World Cup squad, a call that sparked fierce debate at the time and has never fully left public memory. Was it a bold piece of management, or a gamble that backfired?

Defoe, meanwhile, reflects on the painful experience of travelling with the squad only to be sent home before the tournament began — a decision he has rarely spoken about in such detail. The three players offer candid assessments of what it truly felt like to be involved, or excluded, from England's World Cup preparations.

Questions over Sven and Capello

The trio do not shy away from examining what went wrong under both Eriksson and Fabio Capello during England's major tournament campaigns. From tactical shortcomings to dressing-room dynamics, Walcott, Defoe, and Rooney piece together untold stories from inside the England camp.

The conversation stretches beyond nostalgia, however. The three former internationals also weigh in on Thomas Tuchel's current England squad, sharing their perspectives on whether this generation has what it takes to end the nation's long wait for a major trophy.

The episode is available on BBC Sounds and offers one of the most personal and unfiltered accounts yet of England's World Cup struggles — told by the men who lived them.