Fabio Capello today announced his second England squad, and the most notable inclusion was David Beckham.
Many had predicted the new national coach would wield the axe on the career of English football's most influential player of the last decade.
Capello's assistant, Franco Baldini was in Dallas at the weekend to assess the fitness of Beckham, and by all accounts the new regime will not select players on reputation alone, but only on their current fitness and form.
The myth that the MLS is a retirement home for aging superstars, no longer capable of competing at the highest level must surely now be laid to rest.
The truth is the U.S.A is a popular and emerging sporting hotbed, and football is the largest and fastest-emerging sport, and they also have the best man they could possibly want spreading that message across the world.
Steve Mclaren's disastrous reign was doomed to failure the moment he omitted Beckham from the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. England lacked the experience and leadership quality's Beckham brings to the team, in their futile attempt to launch a new era. As an England supporter, I have witnessed first hand Beckham's sometimes singlehanded grasp on matches that has dragged his team-mates over seemingly impossible hurdles.
Okay, David may be 33 now and coming towards the end of an illustrious career that has seen him play for the two biggest clubs in world football, winning countless trophy's and collecting numerous honors along the way. But his game has never been about electric pace and silky skills. It has always been about his accuracy and clever reading of the game, which you don't need the body of a young man to possess.
These are qualities that David still has, and should not be dismissed out of hand just to satisfy the ego of a new manager.
More surprising inclusions in the squad are Middlesborough defender David Wheater and Arsenal's Theo Walcott. Also Michael Owen made the squad despite being written off by many journalists and pundits.
International football is not about a grueling schedule of a long season or the stress of a fixture pile-up. It is about seasoned performers doing what they are known for doing best mixed in with something a little different.
Rather than David playing a 38-game Premier League season with cup matches and Champions League games in-between maybe he is feeling the benefit of a less demanding schedule, and actually feeling a lot fresher and fitter than he would have been playing in Europe.
Beckham is in line to become only the fifth England player of all time to reach the milestone of 100 caps—and I for one cannot think of an England player in my lifetime more deserving of such an honor.
Many scorned at David Beckham's decision to move to the U.S.A. and play for L.A Galaxy but it could well turn out to be to the benefit of the national team and English football as a whole in the long run.
4 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Andrew McNair about 1 year ago
To be honest Chris I could still see this as just getting the whole thing over and done with. He is not going to be in a position I don't think to lead England to 2010 so why play him? England need a squad for 2010 to challenge for the World Cup.
No England side with Beckham in it has ever challenged for a World Cup so what is going to change when he is 35?
He may have got them to a couple of World Cups but that's always where it ended.
Edit Comment Cancel
jill ross about 1 year ago
...then again no other member of any England team for the last 40 years has got them any further, either!
Football has changed, Beckham has done us proud, he deserves to be up there with the best of the best and no one else has mounted a significant challenge to his place so far! Look at the preferred team, barring injuries it always ends up looking like the last one! No other contenders! Beckham is in on merit, not doubt about it!!
Edit Comment Cancel
aalbeck aangla about 1 year ago
I completely agree to what has been told above.. He is still best at what he does and he still stands tall when it comes to his contributions.. Copello was sacked from Real madrid even when RM won the Liga.. under him.. but for what reason..??? one major reason being that he kept Beckham on bench almost half the season coz of his ego.. (the org will definately look up to this foolish mistakes made by the managers.. coz they want the resources to be utilised to the maximum )and when the team started looking dull and inconfident he had to bring back Beckham coz of the media and fans call... and what did he get for it.. A charged up Beckham who not just scored some goals but played a major part in winning most of the games in the last phase of La liga... Which helped RM win the title.. If observed closely why did Copello have Beckham on the filed at the last game even when Beckham was limping from the previous game... ??? Coz then he had realised that a limping 50% Beckham is better then a other 100% fresh player....
If seen the TRP rating of RealMadrid's games in India was so high when Beckham was there but now.. even I myself dont wait for the game to begin.... Only somtimes if there are good match's I keep myself awake to watch some action.
One major mistake made by the Galacticos Org.. is that when the team has likes of Beckham,Zidan,Carlos,Figo,Ronaldo... in the front line up they forgot to get a good defender.. Had they bought a defender like Cassano or Ayala.. If not all the seasons they would have the title for 2 seasons for sure.. Coz RM used to score loads of goals then but used to get back a lot too...
Edit Comment Cancel
XXX XXX about 1 year ago
"...then again no other member of any England team for the last 40 years has got them any further, either!"
Good point...
Beckham does not need speed to play his game but his work rate (which is up there in the Roy Keane school of thought) needs a young mans body, that is the only downside to it all.
Play him for as long as he does his thing, even have him in the squad so he can bring his game with 20 minutes to go for he is worth that in itself i.e Croatia game.
Nobody in football even currently can do what he can, crossing seems to be a dying art form, Barcelona need a crosser as do many other elite sides but there are not many who can do such a thing.
p.s agree with aalbeck RMadrid needed a epic CB during galticos era in Ayala or Stam but for that fact left wanting they would have won so much... Fernando Ruiz Hierro got shipped out and it has never been the same for them since...
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.