Is Capello right to leave Beckham out?

It's a big, fat "no signore" as Fabio Capello denies David Beckham the chance to win his 100th cap for England.

The head coach will formally announce his decision later today when he reveals his first squad for the friendly against Switzerland on Wednesday.

But is it the right decision? Should Beckham be offered the chance to join a very select club of England players who have passed the century mark of games? Or is this the best way to take things forward?

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Comments

[Mark]

He should include him so we can get this circus of Beckhams 100th cap out of the way then drop him and build a new team ready for the world cup qualifiers!

[Brian]

I have nothing against David Beckham. He's been probably England's best player on the international stage in the last ten years (not exactly high praise but still...) Yet the sentiment that he ought to get his 100th cap merely for its own sake is precisely what's wrong with English football. The media and fans seem to have forgotten about the whole "root and branch' analysis but at least Capello did right by English football by giving preference to merit over cheap tokenism.

But maybe the only way to shut the media up is to trot Beckham on in the 89th minute of some friendly. That would be an appropriately meaningless way to achieve a meaningless mark.

[Carl]

Why? Beckham is selfish, self indulgent and only interested in his own image. He has one great foot but he is not truely a great amongst the modern era. I say let Beckham sulk whilst he counts his $millions on some beach in Santa Monica, and let the rest of us true English fans look to a future we can be proud of, even if it requires the nowse of a canny Italian!

[Tom]

Personally, I have no issue with DB getting his 100th cap, I think its a shame for him that he won't at this juncture. Mind you, he has deserted the UK game for a very large annual $ fee from LA Galaxy, a fact that shouldn't escape us, resulting in his absence during the season, lack of 'match fitness' and subsequent deselection by that criteria. Can't argue with Capello on that.

[Paul]

Where is the 'Couldn't care less' button? I bet that would have won!

[Pete]

Pick a fresh team of new, young lads, untainted by "Neutralizing Ecuador" or suicide in Moscow and don't look back. Beckham, NO, NO, NO.

[nick]

Thank god for that, now wer won't have to endure the Beckham 100 range of clothing and aftershave. Steve McClaren was a disaster, but the only thing he did right was to drop the most overrated palyer in the world ever. To bring him back just showed what a clown he was. Beckham has been selected by hype and the goal against Greece for the last 5 years, he should be nowhere near 100 caps and should consider himself lucky to have 99.

[Oliver]

It happens everywhere. Capello leaves Beckham out, Raúl is not playing with Spain, van Nistelrooy was out of the national team, Brazilians rejected Ronaldo, etc.

[Whitey]

I believe caps need to be earn't otherwise they lose their value. We now know that if Capello picks Beckham in the future and he is awarded his 100th cap it will be deserved.

Capello's squad selection is brilliant. He is sending a powerful message to all that he will not be influenced and that only the best 30 players will be selected. Those who are not match fit or not playing regularly will not be considered.

[Warhammer Online]

I wouldn't say it is right, Becham works out with Arsenal so I doubt his form is so bad that he can't be on the team. He has all the skills for helping the team in my mind.

[Rob McRedmond]

What truly great players have England ever had? Less than a handful. No one is saying that Beckham is truly great, but he is has been seen to be good enough to play at Man Utd and Real Madrid, arguably the 2 biggest clubs on the planet. Stop being jealous people, look past the fashion icon, and recognise the guy for what he is - as good as any in the present team and probably better than most if the real truth be known. Forget the whole 100 thing - he deserves to play, and when he does not - then bring an end to an exceptional career.

[e skelton]

Of course he should drop him. Hes 806 years old.

[stephen]

What an ungrateful fool Capello is. Beckham saved his season at Real, and was one of the few brights spots when McClaren finally relented and brought him back. He is still better than most of the team even now. I hope Capello rues this day.

[Dr MI Barton]

The English are few and far between and billions of our money going to waste.
I hope USA beats us for Becks.

[Richard Hydes]

We payed handsomly for a tough manager to put English football back in the frame. Why the whinging about Beckhams ommision? He's doing his job.

[shorehamview]

For sentimental reasons, yeah, sure, give the bloke his cap, medal, gold watch, bunch of flowers and a big sloppy kiss. After all, it's only a friendly.

For football reasons, don't give him his cap. As much as I admire Beckham, who in their right mind would pick him for any team right now? He's not played since November, and Capello must surely be looking to the future rather than wistfully at the past.

So thanks David, and no thanks.

[Al]

He's far more use publicising aid projects than playing football

[Bev]

I'm going to the match and wanted to see him play, so no. Wishing we hadn't bought the tickets now, though still it might be entertaining to see England lose to the Swiss.

[stuart]

what did England pay for? a manager who gives in to public whinging or a manager that picks the right team. if Beckham is good enough he will get his chance, prob best for him to return to England or at least Europe if he wants to play for England. or is it his desire is not for England but for the 100th?

[Jodie, Geneva]

This offends our sense of fair play. Beckham deserves his 100 Cap & he was a great captain too. It's more about Capello's ego than anything else & I hope the Swiss win big-time just to sock it to Capello (spiteful little man). It's only a friendly match but it would be a great match with Beckham in it. What a stupid decision.

[Andre]

The Swiss game should be an opportunity to give some new players a chance to show what they can do on the international stage.

Beckhams match fitness must be called into question at the present time.

[Alice]

Capello said at his press conference that he wanted to build a strong group with a good spirit. How could Beckham who overshadows every event he attends (most of today's headlines are about him, a player that didn't make the squad) fit in with that plan? The England team is NOT 'team Beckham', and the other players need to know that they can be successful without him.
For those that are Beckham fans rather than England fans (nothing wrong with that!), why not support LA Galaxy rather than wish England ill?

[Tracy]

David Beckham was done for when Ferguson's machievellian instincts led him to predict that Capello had already made up his mind to pick him for the match. Fergie knew exactly how he himself would react if someone dared to second guess his team choices and knew Capello would be no different.

Poor decision for many reasons. No-one could blame Beckham if he told England to stuff their job, but of course he won't - and if Capello is to be believed, will earn that 100th cap and more thereafter. English football needs Beckham and believe me, we will only realise what we have lost when it really is too late. So much rubbish gets written and said about Beckham and even normally intelligent football writers blur Becks the footballer with Becks the celebrity. He remains a supremely gifted footballer and should be judged on this alone. Fortunately, those skills are backed up by a character of such determination and commitment to the England cause that he will prove his doubters wrong - again - like he always does. The real villain of this piece is however McClaren, who dropped Becks for entirely political reasons and there is absolutely no room for doubt that: 1) Becks would not have gone to the MLS if McClaren had retained him;
2) We would have qualified for Euro 2008 had Becks played in every game he could;
3)Becks would still be playing now.

My only hope now is that Capello continues with this show of defiance and drops people who couldn't give a damn about the shirt e.g. Lampard, but a failure to include Robert Green in the squad doesn't lend weight to the notion that Capello is a master tactician. How in God's name has Kirkland been picked in favour of Green?

As for Becks, he WILL get his century, despite the fact that England do not deserve him.

[john]

ego over talent...dump him

[David]

Forget sentiment I want to win something, if he is past it and unfit then no way.

[Kv]

This is all about Capello's ego. Trying to prove the force, but again, with Beckham he has shown his petulance. Yes, Beckham wanted his 100th cap but to say that he'd see the day as jolly is wrong. To finish on 99 after what he's given to english football would be a disgrace.

[Bardell]

Quite outstanding that we are yet again talking about Beckham instead of English Football... Without question one of the greatest players for England in recent times and we should be honoured to let him have his 100th as Captain. But yet again the same drab team selection. Lets hope they get the result we all expect. Lets hope capello is the greatest manager of all time... lets get Beckhams 100th out of the way and then and only then let him prove his fitness like everyone else. Switzerland should be about meeting the players, seeing if they understand the manager when he shoots straaangee meassarges to them from the touchline, getting some desire back into those great big fat pay cheques they call professional footballers. As a passing comment, did any see the Rugby selection, seems they know how to run their sport!!!

[RT]

"Keepie uppie" on the beach, opening football schools in Brazil (what!!) and so on is hardly getting match fit. Good on Capello.
Maybe what DB needs is regular footie in quality clubs, not playing for the local pub side.

[Bethany]

So glad Capello hasn't jumped on the Beckham band wagon and has chosen his squad on football fitness and merit. Re. the l00th cap thing - I don't believe he deserves half of the ones he's got - as under Ericsson he was an automatic choice, even passing himself 'fit' when he obviously wasn't, thus letting the rest of the team down. I don't remember many other English captains receiving RED cards or relinquishing the captaincy in tears. I'm sure the England team will be glad to see the back of all the 'showbiz.' hype which Beckham has attracted to himself.

[Joe McGowan]

David Beckham is yesterday's man.

[Tim]

You'd think with all of the criticizing of N.A. football, the England side would have actually won the World Cup in the last 40 years instead of being also rans.

[Anto]

to the Beckham supporters(nothing wrong with that), have any of you seen him play competitively in the last 3 months? i thought sporting team choose the best players on current form and not for sentimental reason. otherwise let's bring back Gazza!!!

[Tim]

Doesn't England play games in the off season? What happens to all the players playing in the English league? Are they left off for not being in game shape?

[Elaine]

DB should be part of the game the whole thing should be fun and enjoyable. He should have not made it obvious he wanted the 100th cup. This has sent wrong messages. Knowing the English we but down any thing that is GOOD and Englsih.

That is why he has been globe throting. Fergie treated him Badly.

King David we still love you.

[Matt]

Well done Fabio, keep up the good work!

[Anthony]

Beckham was lucky to get anywhere near 100 caps! Caps are an honour that are earned and should never be awarded to any player out of sentimentality. England need to look to the future and not the past. The past is where David Beckham belongs.

[Mick]

If he's fit he should play...England is full of ' Beckham Bashers ' Given the negative attitude of the media and the public it's astonishing that he still has the will to play. If it wasn't for his celebrity status he would be appreciated for the outstanding FOOTBALLER that he is. The problem is not Beckham's it's the English attitude.

[william barlow]

Screw those guys David, you're being too good a sport. I would invite them to find another whipping boy, when you get the inevitable, save my job emergency call.

Capello is doing the same thing McLaren did. He is sending his new sheriff in town message using the convenient Beckham as prop/victim.

This is not even the first time for Fabio as I felt he rather piggybacked on Mc McLaren's treatment of Beckham last year to establish his new [no galiacticos please] world order in reshaping Real Madrid.

I think he is in error and under estimates the doggedness of the national press corps. Unless he likes to invite aggravation and it seems as though he might just be, he could have prevented the entire issue by letting David lead the team out for this pointless friendly.

It's not as though the Swiss would object, they are usually neutral on all subject. [Unless you count bouncing cheques.]

There can be no doubt that it is an honour the man deserves and it could have been granted with no strings attached in terms of the future.

It has to be said that Juan Roman Requelme has rendered the old saw a lie. As it turns out one can spend months rotting on the reserves bench and performing for one of the world's best sides and still be the best man on the pitch

[Gary]

Give him five minutes just to make the 100th cap. Then move on.

[douglas king]

People like beckham, because of their status, are needed in any team. They help boost confidence level in a team. One has only to mention how England played before beckham joined the last few games.

However i understand what the coach is doing, if you want to start with a clean slate i think you have to let the team know that they can still do it with out him, then later on when the team is strong enough they can bring him in. Let the truth be told Beckham puts the"E" England just as Ronaldhino puts the "R" in brazil

[Eduardo Pierce]

No, Capello is not right. This is a question and issue that will hunt him in the future and there is no better opportunity to put it to rest than by an early friendly with no great meaning. We still have not solved the problem of set pieces and Beckham's contribution is still valuable. If he would give him his 100th cap early, he would be free to exclude him later if he sees fit without anybody making an issue of it. No, Capello has never been a politician, and in management you need certain amount of that.