Becks out of England squad

Capello axes former captain for Switzerland game

Last updated: 31st January 2008

David Beckham

Beckham: Left out of squad

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Sky Sports News understands David Beckham has been left out of Fabio Capello's first England squad for the friendly with Switzerland.

The England manager telephoned the midfielder and broke the news to Beckham - who is just one appearance short of becoming the fifth man to earn 100 England caps - but assured him he could be part of his plans for the future.

It is understood that Capello told the 32-year-old he wanted his players to be match-fit, and that naming Beckham in his squad to face Switzerland next week would be unfair on those who have been playing in matches week-in, week-out.

Beckham is very disappointed by the news, especially as he has been training with Arsenal during his holiday - Major League Soccer's close season - to get fit for Capello's first game in charge.

He has however been encouraged by his talk with Capello about the future.

In the phonecall, Capello told Beckham he was still part of his plans and that there was no reason why he will not pick him again as long as he is fit enough and playing well enough for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

It is also understood that Capello had no issue with Beckham going to Brazil and Africa this week.

Capello has a history of dropping the former Manchester United star, jettisoning him from the Real Madrid set-up after he signed for the Galaxy before, like Steve McClaren, recalling him as the season reached fever pitch.

Comments

Clement Kwaule (Manchester United fan) says...

I feel David Beckham should have been given a chance to earn his 100th cap for England.I agree that the man is not who he used to be in the field of play but this Switzerland game is only a friendly match and surely an ideal game for him.I really would have loved to see him captain the team atleast for this particular game.Its dissapointing that Fabio Capello dropped Beckham from his squad.He should have been given an opportunity to represent his country for the record 100th time

Posted 07:46 5th February 2008

Carter Usm says...

Good on Capello for not pandering to sentiment. The only reason why Goldenballs got so many caps in the first place was because Sven was so keen on kissing his butt; it's just tough that he'll (hopefully) be left high and dry on 99 caps. Beckham may have scored several goals for England, but I cannot think of a single occasion (apart from perhaps the WC qualifier against Greece) where he really delivered the goods when it really mattered. Great players are remembered for their performances at the very highest level, and on this count Beckham falls way short. There is nothing to be gained from picking him for the national side ever again, given the fact he's now nearly 33; it's time to think of the future and not look back to England's recent underachieving past. It's high time this grossly overrated one-trick pony was put out to grass for good.

Posted 07:09 4th February 2008

Barrie Casey says...

I totally agree with Capello, Becks has'nt played a competetive game for three months, a few weeks training with the gooners would not have got him match fit, why should he take the place of a deserving player just because he is David Beckham. It's good to see a manager with a ruthless streak who does not pick a squad on ability and not sentiment.

Posted 10:44 1st February 2008

Chris Harris` says...

Just give him his 100th cap and get him off the team. he's old, he has no pace what so ever anymore and he's going grey for gods sake! at least SWP can run 100m in under 15 seconds. He's been fantastic in the past but that's gone now, capello should start playing young players to get their experience up so maybe one day we can win a major trophy!

Posted 09:34 1st February 2008

Rachel Noland (manchester united fan) says...

I think that Capello is thinking for the future of English football and Beckham is part of the past. He is not the player he was and he's past his best. Although you must feel sorry for Beckham because of all the hard work he's been putting in these last few weeks to get into the England squad. The sad thing is that Capello cannot see him play as he has done others. This is only a friendly and he could have given him the 100th cap and when you see players like Curtis Davies in the squad, he might as well have put Beckham in the squad

Posted 09:32 1st February 2008

Sam Harper says...

I think this is a disgrace. Beckham has put in the hard yards to keep himself fit and ready for his 100th cap, which he deserves to get in a home game in front of his home fans. There is no question that he still has the ability to get the ball in the right areas time after time and that is exactly what England need, Owen and Wayno are struggling for form so Crouch is the man who needs to get the goals, Becks can give that delivery. Also, he stills covers far more yards than any player younger than him in the middle of the park, he is far from past it. If anybody should be 1st on the list it should be him. Give him that 100th cap and lets hope he gets a few more because we clearly still need him.

Posted 07:04 1st February 2008

Matt Leary (Manchester United fan) says...

Deserves his 100th cap little disappointed. But this is what capello is here for to FIND NEW TALENT because the england squad has failed with the SUPERSTARS!!!!! Players like kitson, and lennon must be give the friendly games to get experience thats what they are for. Look at brazil when a friendly is on they play youth players and some of the older guys are in the squad but don't feature, thats the point of them.

Posted 13:53 31st January 2008

Adam Hal (Chelsea fan) says...

The way David Beckham is treated by the English FA, media and public is absolutely astounding. As a fan in North America, we wish we had players as patriotic and loyal as David Beckham is to England. Beckham is the only one with enough class to perform in big games (i.e. In world cup 2006, every single goal was either scored or set-up by Beckham). Who brought England back to 2-2 against the Croats and gave them a hope of winning? David Bentley? Shawn Wright Phillips? - I think not. David Beckham set up 2 goals. That team did nothing without him on the field in the first half. Everyone points to Beckham's penalty misses, lest we forget that there were other England players who missed penalties as well. Without Becks, England would not have escaped the group stages of World Cup 2006. Let us not forget who put England into the World Cup in 2002 with a wonderful pressure free-kick against the Greeks. I don't understand where this Beckham hatred comes from. He has done nothing but loyally serve his country. Where is "the great" Steven Gerrard during England games? Frank Lampard? Even Wayne Rooney? None of them show up. Only Beckham. Time to give the man the credit he derserves and stop hating him purely on the basis that he has a beautiful pop star wife and lives a celebrity lifestyle. I have been a football fan along time and I can tell you while the MLS may not be top-flight European football, it is not that much worse. If Beckham performs well, he should be recalled. If there were a better right-sided midfielder in England, I would understand the decision. However, none of David Bentley, Shawn Wright Phillips nor Aaron Lennen can fill the shoes of the legend that is David Beckham. Give him his 100th cap and beyond until a young Englishman can truly show himself to be of more class and quality than Becks.

Posted 13:52 31st January 2008

Alex Smith (Manchester United fan) says...

Looking at the reason i think it's a fair decision. McLaren made the mistake of leaving him out to prove a point, building for the future was an excuse as he brought him back in... Capello seems to be doing it for footballing reasons, which is fair enough. Although he's been training he's not match fit. If he'd picked him and the swiss beat us, it'l have been Capello's and Beckhams fault. At least Fabio is looking at the best players for each game rather than this guarenteed squad place which seems to have been developed under Sven.

Posted 13:50 31st January 2008

Harry Hownsens (Ipswich Town fan) says...

Everybody loves to slate Beckham but he has been the highest quality, hardest working player england have had for 8 years. Everyone is posting saying we dont need him lets plan for the future, but clearly when Beckham came on against Croatia he looked like he had more technically quality than the 11 players out there young and old and had more desire. Nobody looked more annoyed than he did when we lost. He wasnt back playing for his club at the weekend either after sitting on the bench not fit enough to play. I dont see how Beckham is not good enough to be included in a 26 man squad and i dont see players for the "future" that have more quality than him. Seems like a typical Manager trying to make a point on his first squad...did'nt someone else do that and end up with his tail between his legs?.

Posted 13:48 31st January 2008

Avon Barksdale (Liverpool fan) says...

He plays in a mickey mouse league He hasn't played a competitive match in months He deserves to be left out. What do people think Capello has been doing watching various EPL/FA cup games England haven't won anything in over 2 decades get over yourselves.

Posted 13:47 31st January 2008

Sam Pinder says...

Why not pick him and get the 100th cap out of the way so we can all stop going on about it. get it over and done with in a silly friendly instead of using him later on in an important game. Plus when becks came on against croatia he was prob the most influential player. Becks has loads of experience and can help the new young enlgand players come through and be successful in the same way he was

Posted 13:47 31st January 2008

Mark Nilsson (Sunderland fan) says...

When a player is out injured for a month or so, we're always told they'll need a couple of reserve games under their belt, as training doesn't compare to match practice. How long has it been since Beckhams had "match practice"? When he did, that was in a Micky Mouse team anyway. Well played Capello! Not all England fans have their Beckham tinted glasses on!

Posted 13:46 31st January 2008

Paul Couslon (Manchester United fan) says...

Is this for real? Is this guy saying that Becks is not good enough or fit enough to play against Switzerland? what have we done letting the FA choose this man over an English man.

Posted 13:45 31st January 2008

Philip Clark says...

i think fabio has made the right decision, giving beckham his 100th cap just because people claim "he deserves it" devalues the accolade itself, and is a mark of disrespect to those who have achieved such a feat before him. i agree if beckhams performances warrant another england cap, that would see him reach 100 caps, then he be called up, but as it stands, hes had no matches to "perform" in for the last few months so his inclusion in the side would be purely on reputation rather than on merit.

Posted 13:44 31st January 2008

Dave Johnson (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says...

I can't believe some of the comments here... You say you are happy that a manager has "at last" stood up to the player power, or "hype", yet I seem to remember a certain Steve McLaren leaving Beckham out of his squad and saying he was planning for the future... Turned out well for him... I think Beckham deserves to walk out for England for his 100th cap, and he wouldn't be any worse than most of the other England players...

Posted 13:27 31st January 2008

Rob Davenport says...

Poor Capello, he was in a no win situation here, pick him and he's weak, drop him and he's been pressured into it. Surely we should leave him to make his own decisions. And when, or if, they are wrong we can pass judegement then. He hasn't yet been in charge for a game yet he faces a barage of criticism coming his way over an insicnificant matter.

Posted 13:26 31st January 2008

Aaron D (Arsenal fan) says...

There is no problem if Beckham is not picked he has not played for a long time- fit or no fit match fitness if totally different. Capello knows beckham so he doesnt need to see how he will fit inot a team. therefore Capello leaving him out is sensible and common sense. This gives capello the opportunity to see how good the players (he picks) are and can easily assess if Becks is an improvement to his team- also Beckaham in the squad would not give a true refelction of the other players vying for his positon so leaving him out is good management. if becks was playing(well) recently then he should be included but he hasnt. Becks' 100th should be given on current form not previous and knowing becks he will earn it.

Posted 13:26 31st January 2008

Gary Bourley (Chelsea fan) says...

I agree with everyone who claims that Beckham deserves his 100th cap, he did do a great service to his countries team and supporters but would he not rather play his biggest match against a rival like France in March. Everyone can see that he is struggling to be the David Beckham we once knew so for that reason along with his fitness maybe he should stand aside for younger talent to step up for this new reign.

Posted 13:26 31st January 2008

Nick Curtis (West Ham United fan) says...

Beckham should be allowed to get his 100th cap as its only a friendly, its at home as well. let him get his cap and then look to the future, we have two more or so friendlies to work out the best team to start picking. Allow Beckham the grace he deserves.

Posted 12:42 31st January 2008

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