Beckham 'likely to win 100th cap'

[Steve Gardner]

I was one of those who felt Beckham's time was up and actually thought McClaren made the right call initially in leaving him out of the England squad.

I also thought McClaren was right to bring him back, given how poorly the team were playing.

Now we have Capello as manager and a bit of time to prepare, I don't believe we need Beckham in the squad. However, I firmly believe he deserves the opportunity to win his 100th cap and was disappointed when Capello left him out of the squad to face Switzerland.

Love him or loathe him, Beckham has been a great servant to the English national team. That doesn't mean he hasn't been poor on occasions, but we sometimes overlook the fact that what little success we've had has come as the result of Beckham's boot, whether from free kicks, crosses or defence splitting passes of pinpoint accuracy.

Give him his well-deserved cap, Capello.

Source and full article: BBC

England coach Fabio Capello says David Beckham is in contention to earn his 100th cap in the friendly against France in Paris on 26 March.

He was left out of Capello's first game against Switzerland in February because of a lack of fitness as the season in the United States has not started yet.

Midfielder Beckham, 32, has 99 caps and Capello will have the former captain watched playing for Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Italian said: "There is a strong possibility that he will be selected."

[teddy]

Yes, he deserves it. Beckham has been a symbol of English football over the last decade - he got us out of some fairly tight spots with his right foot and it wasn't his fault that the media over-hyped him causing some of his other performances to seem lacklustre.

I'm not actually convinced that his England career should be over - but definitely give him his 100th cap.

[Steve Gardner]

There are few footballing moments that will stick with me throughout my life (unless England do, by some miracle, win something), but Beckham's free kick against Greece will be one of them - maybe the one.

He was simply stunning in that game - in fact he was the England team. And, when it really mattered, with just seconds to spare, he delivered.

After typing the above, I looked for the goal on YouTube and re-lived the moment again.

Under incredible pressure. Simply stunning.

ETA: Here's all the goals from that game, including Sheringham's. If you remember, he had come on as a substitute whilst Beckham was shaping to take a free kick. As he ran from the sideline to the Greek penalty area, Beckham took the kick and planted it straight on Sheringham's head for the first equaliser.