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The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
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David Beckham withdraws from England squad

Robert Dineen
The Times
Robert Dineen
The Times

David Beckham will miss England’s friendly against Brazil in Doha on Saturday because of commitments to Los Angeles Galaxy.

The midfielder withdraw from the squad after his side qualified for the Major League Soccer Western Conference final by defeating Chivas USA 1-0 in their semi-final, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Having reached the MLS play-offs for the first time in four years, Galaxy will play Houston Dynamo in the final on Sunday in what is effectively the MLS Cup semi-final. Galaxy won yesterday thanks to Landon Donovan’s penalty.

Missing the Brazil game, in which Fabio Capello plans to pick his strongest possible team, could affect Beckham’s England prospects because it will give rivals an opportunity to take advantage but it is unlikely to be a terminal one.

Beckham will rejoin AC Milan on loan in January in an attempt to boost his aspirations to be part of Capello’s squad for the finals.

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England squad to play Brazil on Saturday: Goalkeepers: Foster (Manchester United), Green (West Ham), Hart (Manchester City); Defenders: Bridge (Manchester City), Brown (Manchester United), Cahill (Bolton), Johnson (Liverpool), Lescott (Manchester City), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham), Warnock (Aston Villa); Midfielders: Barry (Manchester City), Carrick (Manchester United), Huddlestone, Jenas (both Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Milner (Aston Villa), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Young (Aston Villa); Forwards: Bent (Sunderland), Crouch, Defoe (both Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United).