David Beckham flew back to Los Angeles yesterday intent on pulling off another comeback after his omission from Fabio Capello’s first England squad. The midfield player will resume training with the Los Angeles Galaxy this morning knowing that he will have to find fresh reserves of defiance, although he has been reassured by the England manager that his dream of reaching 100 caps is still alive.
Beckham was told over the telephone by Capello late on Wednesday evening that he had been left out because he could not be match-fit after three months without a competitive game. The news, relayed by an Italian manager to an English player in Spanish, came with an assurance that Beckham can force his way back, although that may depend on the performances of David Bentley and Shaun Wright-Phillips in the friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on Wednesday. The decision was taken before Beckham set off on his globe-trotting tour to Africa and Brazil.
Beckham was expected to host a glittering charity dinner for cystic fibrosis sufferers at the Dorchester Hotel in London last night but his camp claimed that he was called back for pre-season training by the Galaxy once the club knew of his omission. The event drew Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the stars of the Little Britain television show, as well as Sir Elton John, who was expected to perform live. Beckham sent his apologies via a video message.
Two other high-profile players left out by Capello were Paul Robinson, the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, and Jermain Defoe, his teammate. Defoe, who has been played sparingly this season, was on the verge of a move to Portsmouth last night.
For Beckham, there is also the complication of playing for the Galaxy, whose regular season does not start until March 29 – three days after Capello’s second match, a friendly against France in Paris.
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It is another test for Beckham but he told The Times this week that he would not be giving up even if he was left out of the squad to face Switzerland by Capello, his former coach at Real Madrid. “I have always said that I want to be available for the country,” Beckham said. “I have always said I am not looking to retire. Things can change in football and things can happen but it is not just about 100 caps.”
Beckham did not rule out retiring at some stage but he said that it was not on his agenda any day soon. “Some people might say that if I win 100 caps, I should call it a day but that decision can only come from me,” he said.As Capello announced a provisional squad of 30 in which Curtis Davies, the Aston Villa defender, was the only real surprise, it was clear that the Italian had been planning to omit Beckham for some time. “The reason that David is not in the squad is because he has not had any real match practice since playing in November,” Capello said. “I advised David that he is still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America we will look closely at him again.”
Capello knows only too well that Beckham will not give up easily. Banished from the first-team squad at Real on the orders of the club’s hierarchy, Beckham forced his way back. When Beckham was exiled from the England squad by Steve McClaren, he also confounded expectations. “Deep down, I didn’t think I would ever play for England again,” he said. “So to be on 99 caps is great. It’s more than I dreamt of. If it happens and I’m not in this squad, I will carry on trying. I won’t get bitter and twisted because I’ve got enough respect for the manager to realise that life goes on.”
Beckham, 32, paid tribute to his young rivals. “I always said Aaron Lennon is a great player,” he said. “Shaun Wright-Phillips is getting what he deserves because he has worked hard. David Bentley is a great young player, a really good kid as well. If players like that weren’t competing, then you would worry. It’s good to have that.”
For him, though, it is the start of another comeback trail. His next match is against Gamba Osaka in a tournament in Hawaii this month.