Adebayor's started so well for Man City
The Beckham Chatter
The sports columnists couldn't be more opposed on this. Michael Henderson writing in the Telegraph today says this: "If Capello gives the part-timer his 100th cap, the Italian will have flunked his first test. At the highest level, Beckham's record betrays him. He played in three World Cups and failed each time." Whereas Lawrence Donegan in the Guardian says this: "has football become so desensitised as a sport, and have we become so debased as a society that it/we can't find it within ourselves to honour someone who, by and large, has been a model citizen and a positive influence in his chosen profession?"
Surely the idea(l) is to put the best team on the field. If Capello can find his target man up front which he has favoured in the past then Beckham's ability to cross the ball could be crucial.
On the other hand if he picks a side to play everything on the ground to small players up front Beckham would be less likely in the line up.
is it true that nick robinson the bbc political editor has been promoted by the beeb to be the new beckham corrispondent
The only criterion that should inform Fabio Calello is whether David Beckham has anything left to contribute. I temper this thought however, with the thought that England's next game is a friendly, and so of no real international importance as such, and it could be the ideal moment to give David Beckham his last hurrah!
On the other hand would someone as motivated and professionally proud as Beckham feel rather slighted if he thought that his inclusion in England's next squad, was only as a result of public sympathy and to give him his 100th cap?
On the whole then, I see no reason to include Beckham if this is just going to be a final bow and as a recognition of his former services. Better if Copello ascetained to his own satisfaction that Beckham is serious about wanting to continue his international career and is therefore prepared to fight for his place based on footballing merits and nothing else.
Why is it that there are so many people in this country who hate David Beckham. He has been nothing but an exceptional player throughout his career. He has played for the 2 biggest teams in the world and has captained England well over 50 times. How Michael Henderson can say he hasn't been a great player is ridiculous. To me it sounds like the normal problem with this country, we are jealous of people who are successful and Michael Henderson, supposidly a respected journalist, is fueling this flame with these sorts of comments. Beckham should get his 100th cap, even if it is only by coming on from the bench. I can't see how Capello can be accused of 'flunking his first test'. To me it would show that he respects genuine footballing talent.
Even if Beckham has a broken leg he should be in the team for the kick off, and then immediately substituted.
His contributions to the England team can never be overlooked, maybe he is too decent to want that though.
Can someone explain why International Caps are awarded for FRIENDLY MATCHES ????
Given Sven's penchant for introducing a separate team (using extensive numbers of substitutes)
certainly devalued the value of awarded Caps.
In the 40s and 50s International Caps were EARNED now they seem to be given away like confetti at a wedding.
Beckham plays for Beckham and his contrived Company.
Any publicity he can manoeuvre/manufacture is purely for HIM and HIS EGO.
If he hadn't brown-nosed Sven, he would have been cast aside ages ago, as he is anything but the complete footballer he has conned people to believe.
Can someone explain why International Caps are awarded for FRIENDLY MATCHES ????
Given Sven's penchant for introducing a separate team (using extensive numbers of substitutes)
certainly devalued the value of awarded Caps.
In the 40s and 50s International Caps were EARNED now they seem to be given away like confetti at a wedding.
Beckham plays for Beckham and his contrived Company.
Any publicity he can manoeuvre/manufacture is purely for HIM and HIS EGO.
If he hadn't brown-nosed Sven, he would have been cast aside ages ago, as he is anything but the complete footballer he has conned people into believing.
Derek (Comment At 08:18 PM on 11 Jan 2008) is clearly a "footballing Genius".
There hasn't been a better embassador for football in England (apart from Ryan Giggs) in the last 15 years. Surely Becks deserves his 100th CAP for that reason alone. (irrespective of the fact that they are given out like Burger King discount vouchers)
Because Derek, of course that's Beck's fault as well!!!
BECKHAM HAS DONE MORE FOR FOOTBALL IN ENGLAND THAN ANYONE ELSE I CAN REMEMBER. OK HE DIDN'T WIN A WORLD CUP WINNERS MEDAL OR ANY OTHER INTERNATIONAL TEAM HONOUR BUT THE JOY HE BROUGHT TO THE ENGLISH SUPPORTERS WHEN HE GOT IT RIGHT WAS UNBELIEVABLE IT HURT ME AS I AM SCOTTISH. THE ACT OF GIVING HIM HIS 100TH CAP IS A SMALL GESTURE FROM THE F.A. BUT A HUGE LANDMARK FOR BECKS WHO HAS SHOWN GREAT LOYALTY TO HIS COUNTRY THERE WONT BE MANY MORE PLAYERS IN THE FUTURE WHO REACH THIS LANDMARK
You have only to compare and contrast how Beckham handled his disgraceful casting out by McLown to understand why he should be afforded the not inconsiderable honour of joining the 100 cap brigade.
Did he bleat and whine in the press about how his country have messed him about and petulantly announce that he wasn't playing for England anymore ala Carragher, no he , IMO, in a very dignified manner went back to Real and said he would never turn his back on his country he would be working harder in the hope that his form and a rethink by the manager would mean he'd get another chance and Henderson or whoever cannot say that the form displayed by Beckham when even Capello had back down and recall him to Real wasn't such that a recall was fully justified.
Now is a different matter, he's gone to a 2nd rate league so a curtain must be brought down on his International career but even with that fact said Beckham has again shown his dedication by arranging to train with Arsenal in the hope of getting that 100th cap .
I for one say that a meaningless friendly with Switzerland is far from fitting the bill as a game to be Beckhams last but thats the way its worked out so give it him and lets give Beckham the ovation and thanks he richly deserves for THAT goal against Greece if for nothing else.
Nothing to do with sentiment. Capello should pick the best English born deliverer of the football, and that person is David Beckham.
I hope he wins his hundredth cap, then is reinstated as captain, goes on to lead England to glorious victory in the World Cup, and becomes Sir David Beckham.
That would be a fitting end to the career of without any question the greatest Engish sportsman of all time, a man who stands head and shoulders above all others.
i think David's done a lot for football but not just football but as a ambassador of Britain and i really hope he gets picked for his 100th cap and many more
I'd pick Beckham whether he was on 99 caps or not.
It doesn't mean that Capello has bottled out if he picks him as he knows Beckham's strengths and weaknesses as well as anyone having managed him at Real Madrid.
I have nothing against David Beckham,however , he has twice been given a red card in The Wolrd Cup, that doesn't suggest he has the correct temprement for the competition.