Alan Shearer insists Walcott deserves to go to the World Cup with England ... Waddle has major doubts saying there are better players in the England set up.
Walcott came in for strong criticism from Waddle, which was supported by former national team boss Graham Taylor, following a disappointing performance in the friendly against Egypt earlier this month.
Both Waddle and Taylor questioned Walcott's intelligence as a footballer, and his rate of progress, but former England captain Shearer takes a different view of the Arsenal forward.
Shearer: "I would have thought that David Beckham would have gone to the World Cup, and I assume that if Aaron Lennon is fit and playing well he will be, so I think there's another place up for grabs.
"I would take Theo Walcott. I'm a fan of his.
"I know he's been criticised for his final ball and his football brain but the future is very very bright for him.
"I would have thought he (Capello) might have used Theo Walcott as his fifth striker, and I would have said there would be no place for Carlton Cole.
"I would have Rooney as one, and Crouch, Heskey and Defoe would be the others. I think there's another space there now.
"It still might be unlikely that Carlton Cole will go because in a way he is similar to Crouch and to Heskey, but because of David Beckham going he might use Theo Walcott as a right-hand side player now rather than straight up the middle."