NOT FUCKING YOU!
David Beckham discovered his illustrious England career had been curtailed last night after Fabio Capello revealed, in a brief 17-word statement, that the former captain would play no further competitive football for the national team. The dysfunctional nature of Capello's England regime was exposed once again after the Italian revealed in a television interview, actually conducted on Monday but broadcast prior to last night's friendly against Hungary, that he considered Beckham too old at 35 to continue a career that has encompassed 115 caps, 17 goals and three World Cups.
"Thank you for helping me during the World Cup, but probably [he is] a little bit old," Capello said. "Thank you." Yet the Italian last night admitted that he had, as yet, been unable to communicate as much to the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, who is in rehabilitation from an achilles injury, in the 48 hours since the interview was conducted, with Beckham's representative duly reacting in surprise at the news.
While there is little shock in Capello's desire to select youthful players such as Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson, who excelled in last night's 2-1 win over Hungary, the clumsy breakdown in communication with Beckham is troubling. The veteran sat on the England bench among the coaching staff at this summer's World Cup, yet his representative was moved to issue a statement last night denying that Beckham would ever consider going voluntarily into international retirement.
While there is little shock in Capello's desire to select youthful players such as Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson, who excelled in last night's 2-1 win over Hungary, the clumsy breakdown in communication with Beckham is troubling. The veteran sat on the England bench among the coaching staff at this summer's World Cup, yet his representative was moved to issue a statement last night denying that Beckham would ever consider going voluntarily into international retirement.
Asked whether he had telephoned the midfielder to tell him that he would no longer be selected for competitive games, Capello said: "No. No. But I think I will speak with him. We tried to speak with him. I think David knows that he has no future with the national team because we have to change. Probably someone has rung him now before I called him. We tried to speak with him, but we haven't managed to. Someone asked me about Beckham [on Monday] and I said we have to look for new players, young players.
"You can see this evening the new players who can play on the right and left wings. I think, I hope, that when David is OK he can play here in a friendly at Wembley to say 'goodbye' and 'thank you very much'. I won't pick him for any more competitive games. I change it. We need players for the future with Fabio Capello and the managers after me. I have to look for new players. He was a fantastic player but age is important for all people, not only David."
That friendly is likely to be in November, probably against France, although Beckham was unaware of Capello's decision ahead of last night's game. "There has been no discussion of retirement," the player's spokesman said. "He will always be available for his country, when fit, and if needed he will be there."
The current captain Steven Gerrard, whose late brace deflated Hungary, praised his former team-mate's contribution over an England career that began back in 1996. "He's got legendary status, without a doubt," said Gerrard. "He was a fantastic captain and, if he has played his last game, he'll certainly be missed both on and off the pitch. But you never know with David. I'm sure that, if he hears that news, it'll drive him on and he'll try to prove people wrong."
