And Another Thing... | Let David Beckham Have His Cake and Eat It

If Beckham really wanted to keep on racking up the caps, it is unlikely he would have ever stepped down as captain. That simple armband would have guaranteed him caps for many years. Steve McClaren would never have had the cojones to drop his England skipper.

But Beckham didn’t take that route. He gave up the captaincy, realising that the team would be better served by having one of the younger members in the squad leading it.

Whether noted or not at the time, it was a selfless act.

At the same time, he could have easily slipped away into international retirement. After his service for his country—particularly that incredible performance against Greece in 2002—few would have begrudged him that.

But Beckham didn’t take that route. Instead, he continued to make himself available for England, even after McClaren surreptitiously dumped him in a frankly embarrassing attempt to stamp his authority as Head Coach.

Eventually, after being forced to swallow his pride, Beckham won McClaren over—and then acquitted himself well when finally called upon.

Then, when Fabio Capello sailed in to re-float England's sinking ship, no one would have been surprised if Beckham had quickly announced his international retirement. After all, Capello was Beckham’s manager at Madrid, and was the man who tried to freeze out the Englishman for being too much of a celebrity.

With business interests in America to protect, a potentially embarrassing exclusion from the England squad would not have been what the doctor ordered. And, with a reputation for making hard-nosed decisions, the LA Galaxy player was always likely to be in the firing line.

But Beckham took that risk, because the opportunity to help his country was more important to him.

In an age where players like Jamie Carragher withdraw themselves from the international arena because—quite rightly—they aren’t first team stalwarts, Beckham’s attitude should be applauded.

His willingness to become a humble pawn in the international game of chess, after so long being the king, should be held as a positive example to younger players—not as a reason for criticism.

Capello is no slave to sentimentality, and neither are England’s fans. As long as the 33-year-old can fulfil a role for the Three Lions—even if that role is just two minutes as a defensive reinforcement at the end of games—and helps the side win games, then everyone will be happy.

Finally, perhaps ironically, it is the comments of pundits like Gardner that have probably driven Beckham on in the pursuit of England caps.

So long criticised for being more interested in celebrity than soccer, with his media interests superseding his footballing ones (arguments that are not without merit), Beckham’s playing legacy has been badly damaged.

In the annals of time, Beckham’s great achievements on the pitch are at serious risk of being overshadowed by the huge amount of criticism he has received throughout his career.

If a record number of England caps, compiled with the help of a few cameo appearances here and there in the twilight of his career, give Beckham a footballing legacy that history—never mind journalists—cannot disparage, then that is fine with me.

And, just in case it placates Paul Gardner, I imagine it would be fine with Bobby Moore too.

To read the previous And Another Thing, about the one-sided nature of the FA's "Respect" campaign, click here.

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