David Beckham's international career comes to a grinding halt
In a recent press conference, Fabio Capello revealed that David Beckham’s England career is just about over. The English manager called the former Real Madrid player 'too old' to continue playing international football for the English national team.
Earlier in the year, David Beckham was hoping to become the only Englishman to have played in four consecutive World Cups for the three lions but his wish could not come to fruition as David sustained an Achilles injury while he was playing for A.C. Milan in the Italian football league. Capello has quite an elaborate past as far as David Beckham is concerned as both of them were part of the Spanish league title winning Real Madrid side in the 2006/2007 season. Capello had various disagreements with Beckham during his one year tenure with the Los Blancos. However, the coach later on exhibited trust in the former English national team captain as Becks was called to the squad in the latter half of the 2006/2007.
Upon his recall to the Real Madrid starting line-up, Beckham proved to Capello that he has the capability and the determination which is needed to regain his previously impressive form. Ever since David’s invaluable contribution to the 2006/2007 Spanish league title triumph for Real Madrid, Capello and former Manchester United player have developed their relationship.
Capello was appointed the English national team manager after England’s failure to qualify for the European Championships of 2008. His first major tournament with the European giants was the FIFA 2010 World Cup - a competition which ended in distress and disappointment for the English as they were knocked out of the World Cup after losing their Round of 16 match against Germany by four goals to one. Despite Beckham’s Achilles injury, the former UEFA Champions League winner accompanied the English national team to South Africa in a non-playing capacity.
After the World Cup concluded, the British media put intense pressure on the English Football Association to replace Capello with an English manager who brings pride and integrity back to England’s football. However, the English F.A. have kept their faith in Capello and the former A.C Milan manager looks set to stay in-charge of the national team till the European Championships of 2012. Capello told the press before England’s friendly against Hungary that, he had not informed David about the decision regarding the player’s international future in private before making it public.
Capello told the press that Beckham will be given his last run in an England shirt later on in the year after his injury has been dealt with. He said that David most probably will be given a chance to say his goodbyes to the English national team fans in an England versus France friendly in November. Fabio also said that he won’t be picking David Beckham for any of England’s possible competitive fixtures in the near future. The Scudetto winning manager also said that David has been an important player for England in the past but age is an issue now, therefore new young players are expected to be brought into the national squad.
Capello also added that he had not called up Beckham to tell him about this decision but there were attempts to contact David before the announcement was made. However, all such attempts were unsuccessful. On the other hand, Beckham’s agent has come out and said that his client is not considering retirement from the English national team. He also said that David will be available for selection for his country given that he is fit enough and needed by the team. Beckham led the English national team to the 2002 and 2006 World Cup quarter-finals where he was sent off in England’s Round of 16 match against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France. He also captained his national team in the European Championships of 2004 where England lost in a penalty shootout to Portugal.
David is currently going through recovery treatment for his Achilles injury and is scheduled to be back by November, 2010.
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