This video is currently unavailable
Can’t see video? Update Adobe Flash Player
Video may take a moment to load. Return to Video Index
Superstar David Beckham was this afternoon axed from the England squad, placing his dream of winning a 100th cap in serious jeopardy.
New England head coach Fabio Capello left Beckham out of his 30-man squad ahead of a friendly against Switzerland on Wednesday.
But he is reported to have told the former captain that the decision has been made because of concerns about his fitness, and that the way is open for him to regain his place in the future.
The LA Galaxy player has been training with Arsenal for the past few weeks.
But he has also been conducting promotional and charity work while waiting for the Major League Soccer season to start and this week flew to Brazil to plug one of his new academies.
The action is believed to have angered the England boss, who questioned his commitment to the England team. The England boss is thought to have spoken to Beckham on the phone last night to tell him the news.
Beckham, speaking in Brazil, said yesterday he would be “hugely disappointed” if he were not able to win his 100th cap against Switzerland at Wembley on Wednesday.
Is Capello right? Should Beckham be in the squad? Post your comments below.
31 Comments
Yes he should, he has been a great ambassador for his country, it’s only a friendly, let him play some part to get his last CAP. Thank you David.
Let the Man play give him his dues he has played alot of football since man u back in the 90’s my opinion let him play for say the last half of the match or bring him on for the last 15 minuites in past frendlys goals have come from substitutes in the last 15 mins
As it is a nothing game, it wouldn’t hurt to give ‘Becks@ a run out for this century. He deserves at least that for his services to the English game. This is as bad as Graham Taylor replacing Lineker before he could equal Charlton’s record. As an England fan who will going to Wembley next week to see hopefully both Becks and Lescott - Fabio has not endeared himself to me yet. Saying that - if he wins the World Cup all will be forgiven!!
Its the price you pay Beck’s for choosing to play in a Pub league. If you want that 100th cap, sign for a Premier team. If not, don’t complain on your 10 million quid a year wages.
The old guard have failed us, bring in the youth. Good call Fabio!
Why should it walways be about Beckham? If Capello doesn’t see him as being fit then what is the point of picking him? He should be treated the same as anyone else who is fighting for a place.
Donn think he should be in the squad, he should have never have left england. money money money and now he wants his 100th cap of us, get a grip people!
Becks should have been in the squad. He’s still only 32 and 90 per cent of Premiership clubs would have him if they could afford it. Who would you rather have on the bench with 20 minutes to go in a big game - Becks or Stewart Downing??? Mind you, he’s never been the same since he left Deepdale.
Don’t all England players who end up at Arsenal lose their talent these days?
4 - spot on mate
look for future, becks wont be there in 2010 (our next possible tourney)
get likes bentley, lennon, young ago in the team
id love to see young and bentley left and right to be honest
Becks deserves 100 caps and would definately have got them had they not appointed that muppet McClaren!
Come on Fabio give him what he deserves
I dont know if its me or if other people have the same oppion. I have always thought the press have made him out to be a better player than he his,I thought if he had been at villa or midlesboro he wouldnt have got 40 caps never mind 99.I would much rather watch a chippy clark,willie johnson,laurie cunningham or even wagstaff from the wolves these place got you out of your seats,with beckham you just expected a cross and he was so one footed.
this is what you get from a non english manager no respect its a nothing game against a nothing team with nothing to prove, becks deserves everything for what he has done for his country, who got us to the world cup, who played for his country while still carrying a serious injury and as proof he makes a difference why aint we in europe this year work it out
I think the dropping of Becks could be more of a statement from Capello to every other English Player, stating that no place is guarenteed.
I personally due to the efforts he has put in during his England career think it would be a fitting honour for him to get his 100th cap, and with us having a friendly it would be a perfect opportunity for Capello to get that monkey off his back, if he does not consider Beckham to be part of his serious long term plans.
But who am i, if Capello gets this England team buzzing and winning games and challenging seriously for a World Cup then Beckham’s 100th cap that never was will not be thought about when slurping into the barrel of lager i celebrate with
Beck’s WILL get his 100th cap for England it’s almost guaranteed. The only way he would not is if there was an individual vendetta against him, which there isn’t.
What we have to realise is that Capello has a job to do, and he certainly doesn’t want to get put around the media as every England boss has had done so far. He is keeping it low key and starting from the ground up. I’m looking forward to the win on Wednesday….and some good football too!!
BRING ON THE FABIO ERA
BOING BOING
Cappello’ wrong mistake, you no what happend last time when u dropped him.
4- ya spot on mate…gr8 comment!!!
BOING BOING!!!!!
Spot on Capello, When Beckham chose to go to the States he knew the potential implications, even putting that aside, the guy isn’t fit, he hasn’t played in weeks. Caps should be earned, Capello hasn’t closed the door, he’s just saying prove your fitness, if Beckham had have been determined to make sure he got this cap, he would have come on loan to England during the MLS close season.
Capello is saying I wont do what the media want, I’ll do what I think is correct.
It’s now going to drag out into the Spring/Summer, will Beck’s get his 100 Cap? Why don’t just give him it now, for the upcoming game & then the whole media circus can be put to bed. This situation just going to overshadow Cappelo’s start has England Manager & quite frankly there’s no need for it to do so.
Feel very strongly about this.
For goodness sake, give Becks 10 mins on the pitch to get his 100th cap. The guy has played his guts out for England and fully deserves to be part of that elite club of centurians.
It’s a nothing game, dawn of a new era and all that, but let him have the ovation he is entitled to.
What is this story doing on this website? If you want to read about posh and becks buy the sun.But here’s a thought, its about time we had an England manager who knows his own mind and won’t be bullied into playing someone by the London press.
He’s not fit. Capello is doing the right thing. Nothing game or not, it’s game for him to start seeing what he has player wise. So if Beckham isn’t fit why should he take the place of someone who can make an impression? (either good or bad) If he proves his fitness and Capello thinks him good enough he’ll be in the squad. Simple as.
What short memories people have , nobody bar Incy ( LEGEND) has sweat more for the england cause in the last decade, of course he deserves his 100th i personally wouldn’t mind him continuing after that as well.
Beck’s has a much better attitude than todays young pup’s
Bently - i wonnt go on tour i’m tired
and it seems the rest of them are more interested in getting in the sunday papers than the england team. If we had 11 with becks skills & attitudes we would of won the world cup at least twice. MODERN PROFFESIONAL - young pups take a leaf out of becks book.
You want David Beckham back, go for it. I think he’s inspirational, but not being a supporter of the England nat’l team, but a fanatic of the English club league football (most exciting in the world) I feel I can give a rational, unbiased opinion. Even now, I’d rather see Alan Shearer back at the helm. Either way, both Beckham and Shearer have shown/showed good class on the pitch as captains. Living in California, so far Beckham has been more of a “Bench it Like Beckham” player and I think a break from all this and a massive re-focus on the LA Galaxy should be his 1st and only priority. He’s getting paid massive amounts and so far hasn’t shown he’s worth it. But I agree, his done good service to England nat’l squad and should get to have his 100th cap. But, after that, he is a LA Galactican.
The other players who won 100 caps earned the right to do so. Our own Billy Wright was not given an extra game to make up the numbers. Players should play because they deserve it.
I think Becks is great and I wish him his 100th cap but only if he earns it properly. Going to Brazil smacked as if he thought the cap was in his bag anyway.
I have more faith in Copello now because of his decision. he has made a statement and the others had better watch out.
Becks has had a great career but now we must use friendly properly
and use them to try out ideqas and blood the inexperienced.
It is so good that players like Becks and earlier Tony Adams have faced up to real difficukties and won through carrying the admiration and respect of everyone with a brain. Some of the wretched cheating, diving, spitting, ‘faking injury’ players of today ought to look at the example of real men.
he`ll get his 100th cap against france,then he`ll be leftout for good,his fitness is not 100% for wed`s & copello wants to blood the younger players who are fit and more hungry,hopfully fat boy lampard,owen,campbell and the rest of the old gaurd will NEVER play for us again.we have two years to bring the kids through regardless of want media pressure given to copello,keep the faith with the young players.
oMG how cant the lad be in the squad….i say gt Davies out…n Beckham in!!!!!
Would the Manager play any of the Havant players, even though they played well against Liverpool - no. So why play a guy who now plays in a ‘pub’ league. I hope this guy ignores the Media and the ’stars’ and chooses players who actually know how to play football, and know how to play as part of a team. Beckham spends more time on showbiz pages than sports pages and that should tell everyone where his heart is.
YES! Beckham should be in the squad! Hes the best right winger in the world with the best right foot, he deserves his 100th cap for all his done for England, Come on Becks!
27-Karen, I can’t believe your comments come from any more than petty jealousy about Beckham’s fame and money. There are very few players who have given more for their national team than this man. He travelled back and fore from California regularly to represent his country, and even when injured so he could lend his support to his team-mates. (Strange for a man who doesn’t “know how to play as part of a team.”) If you have ever done that 11 hour trip to LA once you would know how draining it can be. To do it several times within a couple of weeks showed his commitment to the cause.
On a footballing standpoint, he is still one of the very best deadball exponents and crossers of the ball in the world. To compare him with Havant and Waterlooville players, and say he knows nothing about football, is too ludicrous for words. He is the epitome of a team player, and has been a great ambassador for this country. His reason for going to the US is not all about money. He loves the game, and wants to try and push it forward in one of the biggest potential markets in the world for the game.
Beckham has proven this guy wrong before - I so hope he does it again.
He may be past him prime, but he lifts the team and the supporters when he comes on the pitch.
So churlish to not give him his 100th cap.
Beckham should never play again hes had his day we should now be looking at all young players and blending them in together, lets forget all the has beens and never has beens.