The Discarding of Beckham Was Clumsy but Inevitable

You could forgive David Beckham for feeling bitter about his treatment by England and the FA. The 155-cap former captain was chopped from the side ruthlessly four years ago by Steve McClaren, only to be recalled 18 months later when things started to go wrong.

Now, current boss Fabio has been equally abrupt, announcing that he will not pick The LA Galaxy star for any future competitive internationals - but forgetting to tell the player first.

It was a poor way to go as Beckham's influence on the England squad has been immense over the past 12 years, no more so when he dragged England to the 2002 World Cup with that goal against Greece. Let's hope Capello's promise of a Wembley farewell will be honoured as he deserves to say goodbye properly.

He has always handled himself with dignity despite the behaviour of others. When he was dropped by McClaren he refused to openly criticise the former Boro manager, instead, as ever, declaring his passion for playing for England and his openness to a recall at any time, something the football odds always suggested would happen.

Despite Capello's clumsy man-management, which perhaps could be down to his less than perfect English, I do believe it is the right decision. At 35 Beckham is well past his best and is slipping behind a number of young players who can fill his position. He never had much pace anyway but what he did have has diminished with age and although his set pieces are deadly, you can't carry a player just for set plays - though if we were to have rolling subs he would be a great man to have on the bench!

After the disaster in South Africa the emphasis has been placed very much on youth and looking to the future, to pick Beckham for the side when he recovers from his achilles injury would be going completely against those intentions. The England football betting suggests the side will make it to Euro 2012, but they need to think about who will be playing for them at that tournament.

It will be of personal frustration to him that he will not get to break Peter Shilton's 125 record and you wonder how close he would have got had McClaren not dropped him and he had been fit for South Africa. He can look back on is England career with pride though and will always be seen among the fans as one of the Three Lions' greatest ever players. 

It is just a shame that like so many captains past, he has been unable to emulate Bobby Moore and pick up a trophy.