Beckham set to snub Capello's offer of a Wembley farewell
Source: Agencies |
August 14, 2010, Saturday
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DAVID Beckham will reject the chance to make one final appearance for England, a person familiar with the former captain's plans said.
Coach Fabio Capello announced on Wednesday that the 35-year-old Beckham was too old to continue playing competitively for England, but offered him an opportunity to say farewell to fans in a friendly match.
Beckham, who is recovering from an Achilles' tendon injury that denied him a trip to a fourth World Cup, has played 115 times for England, second only to goalkeeper Peter Shilton on the country's all-time appearance list.
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has said repeatedly that he wouldn't retire from England duty while still playing football.
"It would seem strange to say you are not retiring then to signal your retirement in a benefit match," the person familiar with Beckham's plans said on condition of anonymity because Beckham has yet to announce his plans.
"It's not going to happen."
So revered is Beckham in England that local media lashed out at Capello for essentially retiring him on TV rather than notifying him directly. Capello said later that Beckham could end his 14-year international in a friendly match -- possibly in November against France.
But when Beckham was ruled out of the World Cup after surgery on his left Achilles' tendon in March, Capello had insisted that he could still play a part in the 2012 European Championship.
Such confusion from Capello has prompted the volatile British media to lash out at the Italian, who is already under fire following the team's second-round exit at the World Cup.
British Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to Beckham, who made his England debut in 1996.
"We will all remember some of those great freekicks, some of those great moments that he's been responsible for," Cameron said.
"I'm sure lots of people will be sad that he's not going to be playing for England again."
Beckham has never won the international honors to put him alongside the likes of 1966 World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton, but he arguably contributed more to the national side over the past 14 years than any other player.
"Look at the way he has adapted going into different cultures and different football clubs and the way he won over the Real Madrid fans and then went to MLS and then Italy with AC Milan," Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said.
"He has been an amazing example and I don't think he is getting the right credit yet.
"When he retires, people will realize the footballer he was behind the brand of David Beckham," the Spaniard said.
The veteran midfielder has played mostly as a substitute over the past two years.
"I still wouldn't write him off yet and I wish him well," said Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who was at Manchester United during the first five years of Beckham's career.
"He's a decent lad and he's always been absolutely 100 percent dedicated to football. Once he gets himself fit again, you never know because he's a resilient so and so."
Bruce said that the whole furor may simply be down to Capello's struggle to master the English language. British papers have regularly highlighted the Italian's inability to speak English fluently after two years in the country.
"Sometimes if we're looking at Fabio Capello, I think it's a communication problem and I think we witnessed that last night," Bruce said. "It is difficult, it would be like us going to Italy. There's a whole different culture and we have to respect that.
"I believe it's the language barrier more than anything. As soon as I heard it last night, I thought, well is that the end for David? Whether he meant that, I don't know."
Coach Fabio Capello announced on Wednesday that the 35-year-old Beckham was too old to continue playing competitively for England, but offered him an opportunity to say farewell to fans in a friendly match.
Beckham, who is recovering from an Achilles' tendon injury that denied him a trip to a fourth World Cup, has played 115 times for England, second only to goalkeeper Peter Shilton on the country's all-time appearance list.
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has said repeatedly that he wouldn't retire from England duty while still playing football.
"It would seem strange to say you are not retiring then to signal your retirement in a benefit match," the person familiar with Beckham's plans said on condition of anonymity because Beckham has yet to announce his plans.
"It's not going to happen."
So revered is Beckham in England that local media lashed out at Capello for essentially retiring him on TV rather than notifying him directly. Capello said later that Beckham could end his 14-year international in a friendly match -- possibly in November against France.
But when Beckham was ruled out of the World Cup after surgery on his left Achilles' tendon in March, Capello had insisted that he could still play a part in the 2012 European Championship.
Such confusion from Capello has prompted the volatile British media to lash out at the Italian, who is already under fire following the team's second-round exit at the World Cup.
British Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to Beckham, who made his England debut in 1996.
"We will all remember some of those great freekicks, some of those great moments that he's been responsible for," Cameron said.
"I'm sure lots of people will be sad that he's not going to be playing for England again."
Beckham has never won the international honors to put him alongside the likes of 1966 World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton, but he arguably contributed more to the national side over the past 14 years than any other player.
"Look at the way he has adapted going into different cultures and different football clubs and the way he won over the Real Madrid fans and then went to MLS and then Italy with AC Milan," Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said.
"He has been an amazing example and I don't think he is getting the right credit yet.
"When he retires, people will realize the footballer he was behind the brand of David Beckham," the Spaniard said.
The veteran midfielder has played mostly as a substitute over the past two years.
"I still wouldn't write him off yet and I wish him well," said Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who was at Manchester United during the first five years of Beckham's career.
"He's a decent lad and he's always been absolutely 100 percent dedicated to football. Once he gets himself fit again, you never know because he's a resilient so and so."
Bruce said that the whole furor may simply be down to Capello's struggle to master the English language. British papers have regularly highlighted the Italian's inability to speak English fluently after two years in the country.
"Sometimes if we're looking at Fabio Capello, I think it's a communication problem and I think we witnessed that last night," Bruce said. "It is difficult, it would be like us going to Italy. There's a whole different culture and we have to respect that.
"I believe it's the language barrier more than anything. As soon as I heard it last night, I thought, well is that the end for David? Whether he meant that, I don't know."
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