ENGLAND 23 WITH OR WITHOUT BECKHAM

For  the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup finals, Africa have a chance to host the world greatest football event  next summer thanks to FIFA and their president Joseph Blatter’s rotational policy. It is the world greatest football event and every continent wants to share a piece in hosting it.

Even though qualifying games to reveal the final 32 nations expected to compete in South Africa 2010 World Cup finals are yet to be concluded, some traditional power house football nations have already joined South Africa who automatically qualifies as the host nation.

Brazil will make it a record 19th appearance while the orange of Holland are also confirmed to be part of the show in the rain bow nation in what looks to be a star studded tournament. However with few more qualifying games to play around the world a number of great football nations boasting individual talents and super stars such as Argentina and Leonel Messi, Portugal and cristiano Ronaldo all have slim chances of making it to the world cup finals and only the last day of qualification, one will know who makes through.

Relaxing and preparing for the show is England, after an impressive run of eight successive victories in eight games, with still two games to go, Fabio Capello’s men have responded positively and are again growing to be one of the favourite for the upcoming finals. And being home to one of the best and most followed league in Premier League the world will be watching with interest.

England fans have started packing and embark on a long journey south of  Africa while players fight to maintain fitness, improve on their weakness and hold on to their boarding tickets. The manager with all the pressure to absorb and high expectations have successfully managed to instil confidence and maintain discipline within the team, and his final squad of 23 players to take to south Africa will certainly be selected on merit rather than on reputation and status, something that will leave some big names whooping.

Landing in South Africa with great players in every position is every nation’s wish, but boasting celebrated players and individuals honoured and blessed with fan bases could be tempting and difficult to resist. Capello's interest in publicity and media attentions only dribble around zero but fans makes football what it is.

Questions still remain on who the manager will take to stop the shorts  and keep the defence in shape, while  Owen Hargreaves the Manchester United defensive midfielder who was the team most important and arguably the best player in the last world cup tournament in Germany 2006 is still in recovery.  But one player who always scoops awards of attentions and resurrections is David Beckham whose omission from the squad could equally make headlines as his inclusion.

Relinquished his position as the England captain at the end of 2006 world cup finals after almost 6years in charge, Beckham now 34 hold the second most capped English player record and the most capped outfield player with 114 caps and looks determined to add more caps.

His pace has been evidently slowing down while his free kicks accuracy and deadliness are no more of the quality they have been known for, but the execution, the will and power to direct his set pieces and crosses still fare with the best in the world, something England may just not be able to replace by the word go. He is a player and a brand. For England David Beckham is an ambassador that have always worked hard to ensure success on and off the field and his dedications and interest  in football academies and commitments to non football projects put him above many.

David Beckham’s arrival in Africa will certainly draw a lot of cheers by the locals and attract world wide audiences despite not turning out for a major football club like Manchester United or Real Madrid, while England’s training camp will obviously be a place to hang for paparazzi and media personalities.  

The manager is certainly working out strategies and plans to deliver England’s most wanted and awaited  second world cup title, while David Beckham work around the clock trying to change clubs and continents and find a better competitive league to keep his dreams of playing at another his world cup finals and possible win the title alive. A possible move to Ac Milan where he enjoyed a fruitful season long loan in 2008 could be on the card, while a return to England and join Chelsea could be another option if his former manager at Ac Milan Carlo Ancelotti currently at Chelsea is interested. But Chelsea will first have to fight the transfer embargo imposed on the club by FIFA.

He has proven to be very influential both on and off the field, and has managed to regenerate his best form over the years through dedication and professionalism with his experience also an advantage. But with the likes of Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and Joe Cole all keeping their laces tight for the same position, the competition looks hard for the respected and experienced Beckham, and should Capello opt for form and energy rather than experience, obviously Beckham will be hugely disappointed not to make his fourth world cup finals in row.

It could be history in the making for Beckham the player but nothing is certain in world of football and whether the manager will consider him in his provisional squad before announcing the last boarding 23 is yet to be known. Capello has a big decision to make and for sure Beckham will not be alone if he misses out.