Move over Coleen - meet football's new blonde

The girlfriend of Theo Walcott, England's World Cup sensation, has described his selection for soccer's biggest tournament as "unreal".

The 17-year-old player - a surprise addition to coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's provisional squad for Germany - has been catapulted into the public eye after being picked to join the country's best footballers.

Girlfriend Melanie Slade, 17, said she was excited following the shock announcement that could mean her boyfriend playing against the world's best soccer stars.

Miss Slade, who is at sixth form college, said: "I'm extremely happy for him. Neither of us can believe it. It's unreal.

"He was so excited. This is such a good thing for him. I hope he does well."

Walcott also told the Sun he missed Michael Owen's wonder goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup because it was past his bedtime.

"I didn't see the Argentina game. I have Michael Owen's goal on tape but the game must have been past my bedtime."

Walcott was earlier praised as a "special talent" by former Southampton manager Harry Redknapp, who oversaw the teenager's development last year while they were both at the club.

Meanwhile, ex-England coach Graham Taylor described his inclusion in the squad as "an amazing decision".

The life of the 17-year-old and his girlfriend will change dramatically if he plays in the tournament and produces the kind of form that prompted Arsenal to pay millions for him.

The youngster's meteoric rise bears comparison with Wayne Rooney, who also went from schoolboy footballer to national hero in just a few years.

Walcott said earlier, in a Sky TV interview, that he had received news of his call-up after completing his driving theory test: "I was so surprised. My eyes were just popping out of my head."

He said he had switched his mobile phone off and put it in the locker while he was taking the exam - which he passed.

He only learned he was in the squad later when he spoke to his father.

"I didn't think it was true. He said to me I was in the England squad.

"I was shocked and surprised, as everyone was. My first thoughts were, I can't believe this."

He told the Sun that he celebrated his call-up by playing World Cup monopoly with his father Don - and losing.

The 17-year-old said: "We went home, switched off all the tellies and played with my dad and my mate Adam. I just wanted to get away from things."

Walcott has come to national prominence since being picked for the squad by Eriksson, who has admitted never watching the youngster play live, although he believes the gamble is worth it.

Redknapp, now manager of Portsmouth, told Sky Sports News that the youngster: "Is a special talent, he's got fantastic pace, he really is lightning quick. He's a great mover, he's got good control and he can score a goal."

But he added the proviso: "It's a big gamble to put him in the squad though, let's not kid ourselves."

Taylor said: "It's the biggest decision any international manager has taken on the eve of a major tournament, it's an amazing decision.

"But by all accounts the boy has got pace - and that's pace in capital letters."

With the country's interest in the World Cup ignited by Eriksson's bold move, the decision is already causing the opposition concern, with one Swedish player dubbing the teenager England's "World Cup joker".

Sweden defender Teddy Lucic told a paper from his home country that he will have to do his homework ahead of their Group B clash in Germany - because he has never even heard of Walcott.

He said: "It will not be easy to come up with a plan to stop him though, when he has not even played before. He could be their World Cup joker, we'll have to see if he plays."

Walcott has not featured in Arsenal's first team since moving to the north London club from Southampton in January, in a deal worth up to £12 million.

The lightning-quick winger, who can also play as a striker, said his aim was to improve.

He said he already had to cope with "big stages" such as Real Madrid's ground, the Bernabeu - where he was on the bench for Arsenal - this season.

The teenager said he had not been able to speak to Eriksson on Monday, but the outgoing England chief called this morning to wish him "all the best".

Walcott could also be on course to break Wayne Rooney's record as the youngest England player.

If he takes the field against Hungary in the World Cup warm-up match on May 30, he will be just over a month younger than the Manchester United star was when he made his international debut.

Walcott said: "Most players don't get to go to a World Cup - I'm the lucky one.

"Becoming England's youngest player would be something special. The likes of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney were put in at young ages and if I do something like they've done in their careers, it would be special."