David Beckham's England Career Over: He's 'Too Old,' Says Coach Capello

David Beckham's England career is effectively over, after coach Fabio Capello said the 35-year-old was "too old" to be considered for future squads.

"I say thank you very much for helping me at the World Cup, but probably he is a little bit old," an unguarded Capello told television reporters, when asked if Beckham had a role to play in Euro 2012 qualification and beyond.

"He will play one friendly to say bye bye," Capello added, before leading his England team to a 2-1 friendly win against Hungary at Wembley.

On that basis, Beckham's farewell will likely come against France on November 17, bringing up his 116th international cap, and leaving him second on the all-time list behind goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who made 125 England appearances between 1970 and 1990.

But Beckham's agent was quick to point out that the LA Galaxy midfielder has no intention of retiring from international duty, and will "always be available if fit and needed."

And England captain Steven Gerrard has called on Beckham to continue to fight for a place in the team, saying, "I'm sure that if he hears that news, it'll drive him on and he'll try to prove people wrong and try to get back in the set-up, because I know he loves playing for England."

Beckham made his England debut in 1996 and has played in three World Cup Finals, in 1998, 2002, and 2006. He missed the 2010 Finals after suffering an Achilles injury while on loan with AC Milan.

At France '98 Beckham's international career took off with a superb free-kick against Colombia in the group stages, but he went home in shame after being sent off in England's quarterfinal loss to Argentina.

Redemption came in qualification for World Cup 2002, when a Beckham free-kick in the dying moments against Greece at Old Trafford secured England's passage to the Finals. Injury left him some way from full fitness in South Korea/Japan, but Beckham did take revenge on Argentina by scoring the decider from the penalty spot in a 1-0 group win, before England lost to Brazil in the last eight.

At Germany 2006 Beckham became the first English player to score at three World Cup Finals, once again from a set-piece—this time against Ecuador. But England went out on penalties to Portugal in the quarterfinals.

Beckham will be 37 by the time Euro 2012 comes around, and 39 at World Cup 2014.