David Beckham

[abadani69]

David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy were knocked out of playoff contention Sunday when the Galaxy fell 1-0 to the Chicago Fire on the final day of Major League Soccer's regular season.

The Galaxy, who had mounted a late-season surge to keep their playoff hopes alive, needed a victory in order to advance to the eight-team championship playoffs of the 13-team league.

The Fire only needed a draw but managed to go one better with a 90th-minute goal to claim the last playoff spot.

A sellout crowd of 21,374 at the Fire's home stadium included standing room temporary seating added during the week in anticipation of seeing Beckham.

The English superstar had logged 25 minutes in a Thursday game against New York in his first appearance since a knee injury on August 29.

While Beckham was likely to play limited minutes, manager Frank Yallop noted that it was not a given.

"There's no guarantee that he will get on the field," he said right before the game. "We have to win this match. If it's the right thing to do then we will do it, and if it's not. Then we won't.

"I think that he will be on at some point. He's such a good player that he can see the game out or win it for you."

Chicago, who boast their own superstar in Mexican international Cuauhtemoc Blanco, completely dominated the Galaxy for the first 45 minutes of the game, out-shooting them 10-1, but Los Angeles goalkeeper Joe Cannon was in superb form, coming up with big saves time and time again and the first half ended scoreless.

After the Galaxy weathered more prolonged battering from the Fire, Beckham entered the game in the 58th minute, but could not add any spark to his team.

He looked rusty on the several corner and free kicks he took in his time on the pitch, sometimes not even getting the ball over the first defender. He was very obviously not match fit, and was continually gasping for air as the game wound down.

With Los Angeles pushed up looking for a goal, the game-winner came three minutes into injury time, when Caleb Carr lifted a ball from the right wing to substitute John Thorrington, who was unmarked in the middle of the field.

Thorrington - the first American player signed to the same Manchester United youth academy that produced Beckham - slipped the ball under Cannon and gave Chicago fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Galaxy will return to Los Angeles and begin the process of retooling for the 2008 MLS season, including an off-season trip to Australia and New Zealand.

Beckham, whose playing time was severely limited in his first half-season with the Galaxy due to injury, may also take part in another kind of tour.

Wife Victoria will be part of a two-month, 11-date Spice Girls reunion tour that kicks off in Los Angeles on December 7 and will include dates in New York City, London, Cologne, Madrid, Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney, Cape Town and Buenos Aires

[abadani69]

David Beckham's first campaign in Major League Soccer ended on Sunday when the Los Angeles Galaxy lost 1-0 to the Chicago Fire on the final day of the regular season.

The former England captain played the final 33 minutes but was unable to lift the Galaxy in a game that was goalless until former Manchester United trainee John Thorrington's goal in second-half stoppage time.

Beckham put a long-distance shot over the bar in the 77th minute and his 82nd and 90th minute free kicks sailed dangerously into the box before being cleared.

He was appearing in his second game since returning from a knee injury that kept him out for 10 matches.

Galaxy needed victory to earn a spot in the eight-team playoffs. The Fire were also playing for their post-season lives, but only needed a draw.

The Galaxy entered the match a seven-game unbeaten streak which put them in position to reach the playoffs after a dismal start to the season.

"We've had a good run, but obviously early season is what's affected us more than anything," Beckham told reporters. "We have to win games throughout the season instead of relying on the last five or six games to come back into it. But we've ended the season sort of on a high -- apart from this game -- and we have to be positive about next season."

Beckham said he was not necessarily looking forward to having time off.

"I'm a person that likes to train every day and work every day, and that's the way it's been throughout my career," he said. "For the last 15 years, I've had no longer than three weeks off in the summer. I'm not going to know what to do with myself. I'll be keeping in training and keeping fit no matter what."

Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop said he had no regrets about starting Beckham on the substitutes' bench.

"It would be tough to ask him to (play a full game) with not playing for seven weeks," he said.

"Once he got into the game, he had some good long passes and his free kicks are always dangerous.

[abadani69]

David Beckham, Anthony LaPaglia and several actors and retired players joined forces to raise more than $90,000 for the victims of last month's wildfires in Southern California in a soccer exhibition Sunday.

With England coach Steve McClaren watching, Beckham scored two goals and had three assists in 83 minutes in a 10-4 rout of LaPaglia's Hollywood United. McClaren is trying to determine if Beckham is fit enough to rejoin the national team.

The game also was the last for Galaxy coach Frank Yallop, who announced his resignation to the players afterward, Beckham said.

The 83 minutes was the most that Beckham played since joining the Galaxy in July.

"It's probably the best I've felt in quite a few months now," Beckham said. "It was important for me to get a good workout tonight. I've been working hard trying to get myself fit."

Beckham not only is preparing himself for the Galaxy's postseason schedule of four exhibitions in five weeks, but also said he hopes to be available for England's national team. He said he talked with McClaren on Saturday.

"I want to be involved in every game possible but I've got to get my fitness right," Beckham said. "I can't put myself up for selection if I'm not 100 percent fit, or at least 90-95 percent fit."

Among those playing for Hollywood United were former players Jorge Campos, Frank LeBoeuf and Eric Wynalda, Galaxy General Manager Alexi Lalas, Def Leppard guitarist Viv Campbell and LaPaglia, who started in goal.

Campos played in two World Cups for Mexico and LeBoeuf, started for France's 1998 World Cup victors.

Beckham scored twice on LaPaglia in the first half but in the second half, LaPaglia leaped to block Beckham's 26-yard free kick and dived to his right to deflect Beckham's 29-yard shot with his right hand.

"That one goes on the screen saver," LaPaglia said of the save. "I never thought I would get the opportunity to face him in an actual game.

"He is such a massive asset for American soccer," LaPaglia said of Beckham. "I applaud the Galaxy for bringing him in because he will change the game here."

Edson Buddle scored three goals for the Galaxy. LeBoeuf scored twice for Hollywood United.

[abadani69]

Hours after saluting David Beckham as one of the world's best right-sided midfielders, England coach Steve McClaren reportedly was preparing to bench the Los Angeles Galaxy star for the European Championship qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday.

Several major England daily newspapers, including the Independent, Daily Mail and the Times of London, reported Wednesday the 32-year-old midfielder would be relegated to the bench.

With Russia heavily favored to beat Andorra, England needs at least a draw against Croatia to avoid missing the finals of a major tournament for the first time since the 1994 World Cup.

In October 2001, Beckham's goal from a free kick earned a 2-2 draw with Greece and sent England to the World Cup. The 32-year-old Beckham, who was injured for much of his first season in Major League Soccer, will make his 99th appearance if he comes off the bench.

But at lunchtime, McClaren was lavishing praise on Beckham -- pointing out how his big-match experience could be vital in the final Group E qualifier at Wembley.

"He's one of the best players around in that position on the right hand side, and to have him in the squad is invaluable," McClaren said.

He even suggested that he might gamble on Beckham's fitness for such a decisive encounter.

"There's risk in everything, but experience is invaluable in these situations," McClaren said. "It's a big game and you need a big-game player.

"It doesn't matter what age you are, you can still be a big-game player at 18, at 33 -- and we need them."

Beckham was England captain under former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, but was dropped by McClaren when he took over after last year's World Cup.

With new talent struggling, Beckham was recalled in May to revive the qualification campaign. He played a decisive role in Estonia, as well as featuring in friendlies against Brazil and Germany before his injuries kept him out of four matches in September and October.

But now he appears to be replaced in the starting 11 by speedier Shaun Wright-Phillips.

In another bold move, Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson is expected to be handed his first competitive start in favor of error-prone Paul Robinson, who has retained his spot for more than three years. Robinson faltered in Zagreb 13 months ago to hand Croatia a 2-0 victory.

Although he didn't reveal his choices to reporters at their lunchtime availability, McClaren privately disclosed his starting lineup to the players early Tuesday evening.

However, he hinted to reporters that younger players might be preferred.

"You need the experience but also need the innocence of youth to just go out and do the job," he said.

[abadani69]

David Beckham gave a crowd of 80,295 just what it came to see: some drama and a goal from a trademark, curling free kick.

Having limped around for almost 20 minutes after injuring his left ankle, Beckham scored the Galaxy's only first-half goal in a 5-3 loss to Sydney FC on Tuesday that marked Ruud Gullit's first game as coach of Los Angeles.

"It was an entertaining match for the 80,000 fans. That's what they wanted, to see some goals and to see a bit of an exhibition -- they got that," Beckham said.

Beckham mixed with celebrities at a harborside function Monday night, including an appearance from entertainer Elton John and actor Anthony LaPaglia, who stars in the CBS show "Without a Trace" and is a part-owner of Sydney FC.

With the Galaxy trailing 3-0, Beckham lined up a free kick from 24 yards out just before halftime. He then sent his free kick over the defensive wall and into the top-left corner of the net.

He raised his arms to celebrate and swapped high-fives with teammate Kevin Harmse before walking off for halftime, giving Sydney's Brazilian import Juninho a hug on the way to the tunnel.

"I was really happy to score tonight because of the amount of fans and the attention that there has been on myself and this game," Beckham said. "It's nice once again to get a free kick -- people expect you to do it every time from that position. I practice it enough."

The match for the Galaxy was the team's first exhibition outside North America. The tour Down Under went ahead on the condition that Beckham played a decent part in matches against A-League clubs Sydney and Wellington Phoenix.

Beckham was scheduled to appear at a sponsor event Wednesday before leaving for New Zealand and Saturday's match against the Phoenix.

His first game in Australia could have been over after 27 minutes. With the Galaxy behind 2-0, Beckham lost his footing and was knocked over in a collision with Sydney midfielder Brendon Santalab.

Santalab slipped as he covered Beckham, knocking over the star and creating a hush at Olympic Stadium. Beckham clutched his left ankle, but got up and continued

"I was worried at first because I thought I'd twisted my ankle again and done the same injury as I'd done on the last day of the season with Real Madrid, but thankfully it wasn't as bad," he said.

Sydney FC did not take it easy on Beckham in the second half, either. Robbie Middleby was cautioned for a body check on the Galaxy captain in the 49th minute -- but Beckham got even in the 64th. He slid in under Middleby, then got up, flashed a smile and hugged the Sydney player as referee Mark Shield produced a yellow card.

"It's part of the game -- you get kicked, but you carry on," Beckham said. "I knew he'd done it on purpose, so I bided my time and gave him a friendly one back. We laughed and joked about it after and it was all in good fun."

Los Angeles reportedly sold 20,000 jerseys in Australia. Sydney, which attracts an average of 15,200 for its A-League matches, sold a record number of seats for a club soccer match in Australia.

The Galaxy's lack of practice showed, and players from both sides misdirected passes that gave the first 20 minutes the look of a practice session.

Alex Brosque scored in the 20th and 26th minutes and Ruben Zadkovich fired a right-foot shot from the top edge of the area past Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon in the 30th.

The Galaxy closed to 3-2 when Edson Buddle scored in the 49th, but Middleby restored the two-goal lead with a shot into an open goal 6 minutes later.

[abadani69]

With David Beckham bent over clutching his ankle, the Galaxy's first exhibition outside North America seemed doomed to go down as a failed marketing exercise.

When the England midfielder bent a trademark free kick into the goal 18 minutes later and 80,295 people rose to their feet cheering, it suddenly was an unqualified success.

Brand Beckham certainly enhanced its status in Australia, despite the Galaxy's 5-3 loss to Sydney FC in an exhibition at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night.

As second-half scorer Landon Donovan later said, if Beckham had gone off in the 27th minute after a clumsy challenge from Sydney player Brendon Santalab, the Galaxy's offseason tour was as good as over.

According to local reports, Beckham is contracted to play 55 minutes in each match against A League clubs Sydney here and at Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.

"I always try and stay on whether I'm injured or not," Beckham said. "I'm quite a stubborn person. When I want to stay on, there's not many people who can convince me to come off.

"The first time I'd heard about the 55 minutes I was contracted to play was yesterday. I was happy to play the whole game."

Beckham has built his multimillion dollar fortune, together with pop star wife Victoria, the former Posh Spice, on giving the fans what they want whether it be on the field or the red carpet.

"It was an entertaining match for the 80,000 fans. That's what they wanted, to see some goals and to see a bit of an exhibition. They got that," he said.

After fearing a recurrence of the ankle injury he picked up in his last game for Real Madrid that contributed to him missing all but five games in his debut MLS season for Los Angeles, Beckham quickly regained his composure and his touch.

The Galaxy were trailing 3-0 a minute before halftime when was awarded a free kick 24 yards out following a foul on Carlos Pavon. Enter Beckham.

He calmly curled it into the top left corner of the net.

The 32-year-old former England captain raised his arms to celebrate and then swapped high-fives with teammate Kevin Harmse before walking off for halftime, giving Sydney's Brazilian import Juninho a hug on the way to the tunnel.

"In that sort of situation there's always a certain amount of pressure on me to score, because I think people expect you to do it every time there's a free kick given in that position," Beckham said.


AP - Nov 27, 7:54 am EST
More Photos


"I was really happy to score tonight because of the amount of fans and the attention that there has been on myself and this game tonight, so I was really pleased."

He also was determined to prove he's no pushover.

Robbie Middleby was cautioned for a body check on the Galaxy captain in the 49th minute, but Beckham got even in the 64th. He slid in under Middleby, then got up, flashed a smile and hugged the Sydney player as referee Mark Shield produced a yellow card.

"It's part of the game. You get kicked, but you carry on," Beckham said. "I knew he'd done it on purpose, so I bided my time and gave him a friendly one back. We laughed and joked about it after and it was all in good fun."

Sydney opened the scoring immediately after Beckham's first free kick, from the left, in the 19th minute, with Alex Brosque scoring on the counterattack.

Brosque scored again in the 26th and Ruben Zadkovich fired a right-footed shot from the top of the area past Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon in the 30th.

The Galaxy scored on either side of halftime thanks to Beckham and Edson Buddle, but Middleby restored Sydney's two-goal lead with a shot into an open net in the 54th.

The teams traded goals in the last minutes of regulation.

Iain Fyfe swooped on a fumble by substitute goalkeeper Steve Cronin to make it 5-2 and U.S. team star Donovan beat Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton for the final score.

Ruud Gullit said he saw enough in his first match in charge of the Galaxy to expect bigger things next MLS season.

Beckham said Gullit had made a difference.

"He's only coached us for two days, and he's worked us really hard. It's good for us," he said. "He's been one of the best players in the world. He's a manager and a player we can all learn from."

Beckham is scheduled to launch a perfume brand in Sydney on Wednesday and leave with the team for New Zealand on Thursday for the second leg of the tour.

He's been trailed by paparazzi and constantly under the media gaze at a series of celebrity and sponsor events since arriving in his private jet on Sunday.

Beckham mixed with celebrities at a harborside function on Monday night, including an appearance from entertainer Elton John and actor Anthony LaPaglia, who stars in the CBS show "Without a Trace" and is part owner of Sydney FC.

And the match had a heavy marketing angle. The Galaxy reportedly sold 20,000 jerseys in Australia. Sydney, which attracts an average of 15,200 for its A-League matches, played in front of its biggest crowd ever.

Next stop for Galaxy is Westpac Stadium in Wellington, where 28,000 of the 35,000 seats have already been sold for Saturday's match.

[abadani69]

Having conquered Australia, soccer superstar David Beckham faced a harder sell Thursday when he jetted into New Zealand for the second match of the Los Angeles Galaxy's tour Down Under.

If rugby-mad New Zealand falls to his charms, the England midfielder will have pulled off an exceptional piece of football conversion.

Soccer is a minor sport in New Zealand, widely played by school children but followed by few adults in a nation of four million people obsessed with rugby.

Organizers of the Galaxy's match against the Wellington Phoenix on Saturday hope to break the all-time record for a soccer crowd in New Zealand, the 31,000 mark set in 1982 when New Zealand played Kuwait on the way to that year's World Cup finals.

By the time of Beckham's arrival Thursday, almost 30,000 tickets had been sold and around 5,000 more remained to be sold before full house signs could be displayed at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

The largest crowd the Phoenix have drawn, in their inaugural season in Australia's A-League this year, is just over 14,000.

Beckham captivated Australia during his first visit there, playing all 90 minutes of the Galaxy's match against Sydney FC and thrilling 80,000 fans at that match with a goal from a curling free kick. Sydney won 5-3.

The Galaxy and Phoenix agreed to a contract specifying Beckham will play at least 55 minutes of the match in Wellington on Saturday. Though he suffered a minor ankle injury during the Sydney match -- where he also had a 55-minute provision in his contract -- he has insisted he will be ready to play.

Beckham and Galaxy teammates arrived in Wellington around midday Thursday on a scheduled commercial flight. He was greeted at Wellington Airport by thousands of fans -- many of them teenage girls -- and a party of indigenous Maori, among them a fierce, spear-carrying warrior, who delivered a ceremonial challenge.

The bare-chested warrior, wearing a traditional facial tattoo and brandishing a wooden spear, approached Beckham with a series of threatening gestures and laid a dart at his feet.

The manner in which the dart is picked up reveals whether a visitor's intentions are friendly or hostile. Beckham's acceptance of it marked him as a friend.

The Galaxy will hold an open training session at Westpac Stadium on Friday which is expected to attract around 15,000 people, most of them pupils from local schools. Beckham and teammates will attend the Phoenix's scheduled A-League match against Adelaide in Wellington on Friday night.

Security during his visit will be tight.

"He has a team of two personal bodyguards who are solely for him," Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata said.

[abadani69]

David Beckham is eager to play under new England manager Fabio Capello -- despite the stormy relationship the two shared at Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old midfielder has played 99 games for England and hopes to reach No. 100 in England's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on Feb. 6.

"Fabio is one of the managers players look up to and want to manage them. I hope I'll be part of his plans," Beckham told BBC Radio in an interview to be broadcast on Christmas Day. Excerpts were released by the BBC on Monday.

"I think he is a great appointment for England. Everyone wants someone leading you that has respect and success. He has definitely got that in his career."

Capello dropped Beckham from Real Madrid when the former England captain announced his move to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. But Beckham won back his place and helped Madrid win the Spanish league title last season.

"There were ups and downs with me and the manager at the time but he brought me back into the team and he had the belief in me to put me back in the team," Beckham said. "It gave me an amazing end and I was sad when he got the sack (fired) as I believe he had turned the club and the players around and given the fans what they deserved, a trophy."

Capello, who won 14 trophies with four different clubs, was appointed manager of England's ailing team on Dec. 14.

He replaced Steve McClaren, who was fired in November when England failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. McClaren's first decision when he became manager in August 2006 was to drop Beckham, only to bring him back in May when England's Euro 2008 campaign was faltering.

Capello was noncommittal about Beckham's future during his first news conference on Dec. 17.

"I think Beckham, when he sets himself something, he will achieve it," Capello said then. "But I will have to make choices. I believe that Beckham is an important player for England and I will take him in serious consideration."

[Rasputin]

ديويد بكهام به تيم ملي دعوت نشد

در فهرست بازيكنان تيم ملي فوتبال انگلستان براي ديدار مقابل سوئيس كه از سوي فابيو كاپلو اعلام شده است نام ديويد بكهام ديده نمي شود.

به گزارش مهر، شايعه حضور نيافتن ديويد بكهام در تيم ملي انگلستان با انتشار رسمي فهرست بازيكنان تيم ملي فوتبال اين كشور براي شركت در بازي دوستانه مقابل سوئيس تائيد شد.

براساس گزارش روزنامه گاردين، بازي مقابل سوئيس كه ششم فوريه در لندن برگزار مي شود، اولين حضور فابيو كاپلو در سمت سرمربيگري تيم ملي فوتبال انگلستان به شمار مي رود و در ليست 30 نفره اي كه وي اعلام كرده است نام ديويد بكهام ديده نمي شود.

كاپلو در خصوص اين انتخاب توضيح داد: "من به بكهام توضيح دادم كه همچنان بخشي از نقشه هاي من را اجرا مي كند و درهاي تيم ملي هنوز به روي وي بسته نشده اند".

[Rasputin]

'بکهام دیگر جایی در تیم ملی انگلستان ندارد'


بکهام از سال 2003 لیگ انگلستان را ترک کرد و به رئال مادرید پیوست
پس از آنکه فابیو کاپلو سرمربی جدید تیم ملی انگلستان، برای اولین بار ترکیب تیم خود را (برای بازی دوستانه مقابل سویس) اعلام کرد و نام دیوید بکهام، بازیکن سرشناس اهل منچستر را در فهرست بازیکنان قرار ندارد، اندک سرو صداهایی در رسانه های بریتانیایی شنیده شد، هرچند این اعتراضات و شکایات به اندازه زمانی که استیو مک لارن، مربی پیشین انگلستان بکهام را از ترکیب تیم ملی دور نگه داشت نبود.
با این حال هیو مک ایلونی، ورزشی نویس شناخته شده روزنامه تایمز که تنها ورزشی نویسی است که عنوان بهترین روزنامه نگار سال بریتانیا را کسب کرده، در مطلبی در هفته نامه ساندی تایمز، فرا نخواندن بکهام را کاری صحیح دانسته است.

این مقاله از آن جهت اهمیت دارد که شرایط توصیف شده در آن لزوما به دیوید بکهام، تیم ملی انگلستان و فابیو کاپلو محدود نمی شود و شرایطی مشابه در تیمها و کشورهای دیگر، در گذشته و حال دیده شده است و دیده می شود.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

هیو مک ایلونی می نویسد تصمیم فابیو کاپلو یادآوری می کند که حق بازی کردن برای انگلستان، باید بر اساس چیزی بیش از اظهاراتی میهن پرستانه تعیین شود.

مک ایلونی ادامه می دهد :"به نظر می رسد حضور فعال در فوتبال حرفه ای را بتوان یک پیش شرط معقول در این زمینه دانست که بکهام مدتی طولانی است با چنین شرایطی فاصله داشته است. "

این نویسنده معتقد است هرچند صداهایی احساساتی می گفتند که انگلستان به بکهام مدیون است و باید او را برای صدمین بار همراه با این تیم به زمین بفرستد، اما "تصمیم کاپلو برای مد نظر قرار دادن فوتبال، یک پیروزی برای اولویت های عاقلانه بود."

"اگر او اجازه می داد فشار لابی دیگران باعث تغییر اصول او شوند، آجر اول را در رابطه اش با فدراسیون فوتبال انگلستان کج نهاده بود."

آگاه از عواقب تصمیم

ساندی تایمز معتقد است تصمیم کاپلو برای کنار گذاشتن بکهام، کاملا حساب شده بوده است و ابراز تمایل او برای ارائه توضیح به بکهام در مورد دلایل این مسئله، نشان می دهد که فابیو کاپلو به عواقب تصمیم خود کاملا آگاهی داشته است.

هر چند نویسنده تایمز می نویسد توضیحات او به بکهام "ظاهرا درباره نا آمادگی جسمی بکهام و نداشتن آمادگی روحی برای مسابقه" بوده است.

هیو مک ایلونی معتقد است می توان این تصمیم را همچنین پیامی صریح و آشکار در مخالفت با اصل تن در دادن به خواسته های بر آمده از غرور بازیکنان دانست که "در سالهای اخیر نهادینه شده و مربی گری تیم ملی را دچار مشکل ساخته است."

این نویسنده سرشناس در مخالفت با "اطرافیان بکهام" که نرسیدن این بازیکن به مرز 100 بازی ملی را "رسوایی" خوانده بودند می پرسد: "آیا باید پذیرفت که دستیابی به رکورد 99 بازی ملی، تضمین کننده حضور در بازی صدم است؟ و آیا در این شرایط نباید توانایی و قابلیتهای یک بازیکن را در نظر گرفت؟"

شایسته سالاری


دیوید بکهام در اوایل ژانویه سال 2007 به لس آنجلس گالاکسی پیوست اما بخاطر مصدومیت، نتوانست بیش از چند بازی در ترکیب این تیم حضور داشته باشد
نویسنده ساندی تایمز یادآوری می کند که بسیاری ورزش را جایگاه "شایسته سالاری" می دانند، نه جای اعمال موازین یک سیستم متکی به القاب و عناوین.

او می پرسد: "آیا خود بکهام نباید احساس کند که اگر بازی صدم به شکل یک هدیه به دست آید، اعتبار 100 بازی ملی معادل 99 بازی خواهد بود؟"

هیو مک ایلونی با ذکر نام بزرگان گذشته فوتبال انگلستان مانند سر استنلی متیوز، سر تام فینی و جیمی گریوز می نویسد این بازیکنان همه کمتر از 77 بازی ملی در کارنامه خود داشتند اما در طبقه بندی بازیکنان تاریخ انگلستان، مطمئنا استعداد و توانایی بکهام بسیار پایین تر از آنها ارزیابی خواهد شد.

لیگ "لم یزرع" آمریکا

ساندی تایمز در نهایت می نویسد احتمالا تضمین کاپلو، مبنی بر اینکه اگر بکهام خود را دوباره آماده کند در ترکیب جای خواهد گرفت، با این دید مطرح شده است که این مربی انتظار ندارد بکهام به این چالش پاسخ دهد.

مک ایلونی که محیط لیگ فوتبال حرفه ای ایالات متحده را "زمینی لم یزرع" خوانده است، می نویسد هر چند این بازیکن 32 ساله در گذشته چندین بار خود را به شرایط آرمانی نزدیک کرده، اما بازگشت از لیگ آمریکا به درخشش در عرصه جهانی حتی برای بکهام هم کاری بزرگتر از توان است.

این نویسنده ادامه می دهد: "زندگی بکهام بعنوان یکی از سرشناس ترین شخصیتهای فوتبال، آنچنان به یک سریال تلویزیونی شباهت داشته که همواره بطور طبیعی دستخوش کلیشه و ابتذال گشته است."

"وقتی او قرارداد چندین میلیون پوندی خود را در آمریکا امضاء کرد و قول داد که کماکان نقطه اتکای انگلستان باقی بماند، در واقع منظورش این بود که می تواند هر وقت که بخواهد برای تیم ملی انگلستان بازی کند."

"اما حقیقت تاسف بار این است که او خربزه را خورده و باید پای لرزش هم بنشیند."

[Rasputin]

Beckham gets the call from England

David Beckham survived the cut Saturday when England Coach Fabio Capello trimmed his roster from 30 to 23 for Wednesday's match against France in Paris.

In revealing his choices, Capello made it abundantly clear that Beckham was selected on merit, not sentiment, and that the 32-year-old midfielder still has to show in training this week that he is up to the task.

"Let's get one thing straight, I don't call players up to do them a favor," the Italian said through an interpreter in London. "I call them up with a view to future games and what I need to do in the future. It's not my style to call someone up to do them a favor.

"I call up players who I believe are important to the team. I believe he is going to be useful. Good players are good players whether they play in the U.S. or England or in Spain. On top of that, I believe David Beckham is probably fresher than other players at the moment because he has just started his season."

Capello opted to exclude Shaun Wright-Phillips, one of Beckham's challengers for the starting spot on the right wing. He also brought goalkeeper Paul Robinson back into the squad after Scott Carson, who had replaced Robinson as England's starter, was injured.

The game against France is Capello's second since assuming the England coaching reins. He did not call Beckham up for his first game, against Switzerland in February.

"The previous match he was not fit because he had not played any games," Capello said. "He is now fit. When David is fit, he can always make an important contribution because of his vision and the fact that he can cross the ball and create chances, not only from free kicks but during open play as well. We have to watch him in training. The important thing is that he is available and fit."

Before flying to London, Beckham took part in the Galaxy's scrimmage Saturday, on a fan appreciation day that drew an estimated 4,000 to the Home Depot Center. On Wednesday, he will have a good chance of becoming only the fifth player in history to appear in 100 games for England.

[Rasputin]

At the end of term it is customary to file a report card on a student's performance and Fabio Capello now invites such attention for his work-in-progress after his brief but continuing turn as England's head coach.

A similar report can also be made about old head boy David Beckham, given their previous association at Real Madrid and Capello's appointment of Beckham as captain for the Trinidad and Tobago game.

End of season games for the 2007/2008 international season, against the USA and Trinidad and Tobago, for an England team with no presence in Euro 2008 was never going to inspire extensive enthusiasm and it is a credit to the English game that the two matches carried some interest.

Arguably the most compelling brief was England's courtship by Jack Warner, the FIFA vice president, who will have a key role in England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. This familiarity alone might well account for the continued accumulation of David Beckham's caps and for his captaincy of the national side for the game in the Caribbean, as Warner is a Beckham fan and is quite sure of the necessity of using Beckham to promote England's cause.

For England fans, Capello sent out two contrasting teams for the two games. For the USA at Wembley we saw a traditional England side that frankly was not significantly different from that managed by Sven-Goran Eriksson and then Steve McClaren; a squad and a management style that seriously malfunctioned.

These were teams essentially comprised of English Champions League clubs with individuals that may well not have been harnessed to a team ethic. The teams also signified a somewhat ponderous, prosaic approach to the game and provided little pace or excitement.

The back six generally looked strong, with Owen Hargreaves catching the eye in the holding role along with the considerable presence of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. The continued inclusion of Frank Lampard and David Beckham suggested a slow midfield.

Jermain Defoe was finally given his chance alongside Wayne Rooney but the pair made no real connection and Defoe remained wasteful. Rooney's considerable skills were once again sadly underutilised. The second-half substitution gave fans sight of a Steven Gerrard goal that was as skilful and pacy as any international goal seen this year, along with the continued reminder of the strength of a Gareth Barry/Gerrard midfield.

Capello's problem with these two end-of-term games was how to give his players a run-out and to suggest progress was being made for the September 2008 qualification for the 2010 finals. If the USA/Wembley game represented the remnants of Eriksson/McClaren then the Trinidad and Tobago/Caribbean game gave some indication of Capello's work-in-progress.

Against poor opposition, but facing an enthusiastic, white-shirted, partisan crowd, England demonstrated structure, pace and a clear responsibility to move the ball around but to keep possession. Capello also suggested that players will be expected to play to a given role and limit their own personal initiative to the team effort.

Unlike Eriksson's regime, substitutions quickly worked to the team plan and it was good to sense tactics had been clearly worked out and players seemed to know what to do rather than be left with the impression of improvisation that might or might not be successful. Above all, for a good deal of the game, the side seemed very balanced.

Glen Johnson and Wayne Bridge linked well along their lines with Stuart Downing and David Beckham and the Gerrard goal was a direct result of a fine ball from Downing that allowed Bridge to get in front of him, round the defender and make an incisive cross.

Even without a specific holding midfielder, which will be needed against stronger teams, Barry and Gerrard bossed the midfield. Downing was incisive and offers genuine competition to Joe Cole whilst Dean Ashton deserves another chance for his attempted control, hold up and linking play; Sadly Defoe continues to be wasteful.

David Bentley offered pace and commitment and he will be much better when he does a little less individually and plays a little more to the team script.

Capello's achievement was to offer a glimpse of a younger, more disciplined team that enjoys wing play and the overlapping full back, not the clogged-up midfield that Eriksson used to favour. If Eriksson/McClaren never fully gave up on Beckham, Cole, Gerrard and Lampard as a unit, there is some suggestion that Capello may well do so.

But if the Italian's end-of-term report is very promising, he still has a major task to perform and that is to exorcise the presence of David Beckham.

As a player, Beckham is now very short of pace, he gave away too many passes, he barely made a defensive tackle, preferring instead to stand in front of the opposing player, and if he did make two or three supurb crosses, he wasted many more opportunities.

Worse still, Beckham refuses to be marginalised on the right and there were too many occasions where he came over to the left in search of the ball. This meant the left side was overmanned and they got in each others way whilst a top side would have undoubtedly exploited the space on the right and the inexperience of the right full-back.

But worse than these physical features, Beckham still craves attention. He was captain, deferred to by other players who merely give him the ball rather than exploit other areas of the field; he must also take every set piece. All of this means the team is slow and predictable. For all of his apparent good work in past games, Beckham's presence is now a hindrance to the growth of the England team and to the integration of the newer, younger players.

The real test for Capello from next September will be not only to build on the continued 'team' ethic and variety of attack that has begun to emerge but also to maintain the determined, quicker and creative midfield.

If Capello is to receive a high grade for his next report his midfield will be more Barry, Bentley, Downing, Gerrard and Hargreaves rather than Beckham, Cole, Gerrard and Lampard. Of course, if he really aspires to an A-plus he will also have worked out how best to use the high-quality skills possessed by Rooney.

[abadani69]

David Beckham no longer expects to play in every game for England and was happy to be in the squad for the 4-1 victory in Croatia on Wednesday inspired by a hat-trick by teenager Theo Walcott.

“I’m pleased for Theo and the team, and I am happy to be here with the squad, but I don’t expect to play in every game anymore,” the former captain said after England’s convincing World Cup qualifying win put them top of Group Six.

“That’s the way it is now,” 33-year-old Beckham was quoted as saying in Friday’s Guardian newspaper.

“I was happy to get on in both games (Andorra and Croatia) and would have liked to have played more but it’s all about the team and the squad, and qualifying for the World Cup.

“I really don’t care if I play or not. I’m just happy with the way they played and with the six points from the two games. The biggest thing is England winning and qualifying.”

Beckham was a late substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Andorra and against Croatia in Zagreb but 19-year-old Arsenal winger Walcott, wearing the number seven shirt Beckham made famous, stole the show on Wednesday.

“Theo had proved himself before this game with Arsenal,” added Beckham. “The speed he has is incredible and I have never played with a faster player. It doesn’t matter about his age.

“Of course, you need experience but we have that with other players and Theo has played in some big games for Arsenal. If he plays like that and scores like he did, as well as creating the chances he does, he will frighten opponents.”

“He’s at the right club with the right manager and everyone knows (Arsenal’s) Arsene Wenger looks after his players. I’d just tell him to enjoy it,” added LA Galaxy’s Beckham.

[abadani69]

David Beckham has been appointed a vice president for England’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.

The Los Angeles Galaxy star will support a newly formed Football Association executive board. Its task is bringing football’s biggest event back to the country that last staged it in 1966, when England captured the trophy—its only World Cup triumph.

“I’m proud to be part of the FA’s 2018 World Cup bid and will do everything I can to help bring the tournament to England,” Beckham told thefa.com.

“I was able to play my part in the successful London 2012 Olympic bid and, throughout my career, have witnessed the difference sport makes to peoples’ lives, all over the world.”

The FA announced Beckham will be joined by another former England star, John Barnes, who begins work as coach of Jamaica’s national team next month. More vice presidents will be announced soon.

England will face opposition in Europe from a joint bid by Belgium and the Netherlands, and there is speculation that Australia and China might also be interested in hosting the event.

While the United States is also considering a move, FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested two weeks ago that, because the Americas already have the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the U.S. would stand a better chance in 2022.

The 2018 host will be selected at an executive committee meeting in 2011. Blatter said FIFA is looking at the possibility of selecting the 2022 host at the same time.

[abadani69]

David Beckham will train with AC Milan beginning in January to stay in shape after the Major League Soccer season ends, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported.

Beckham wants to remain fit so that he can be called up to play in England’s World Cup qualifying matches. England coach Fabio Capello has said he will not pick players who are not playing in a league championship.

“I’m in agreement with this and don’t see any downside,” the paper quoted Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti as saying. “We will get to know a true champion.”

The MLS season ends in November, after which Beckham’s Los Angeles Galaxy will travel to Australia and New Zealand in December to play exhibitions.

“Ancelotti and I will be waiting for Beckham at Milanello,” Milan vice president Adriano Galliani told Gazzetta, referring to his team’s training grounds. “You all want to know if we will buy him? We’ll talk about that in the future.”