Beckham missing from Capello's inaugural England squad
www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-01 09:04:16   Print

    LONDON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- David Beckham has been denied his 100th cap for England after being left out of Fabio Capello's first England squad for Wednesday's friendly against Switzerland.

Real Madrid's David Beckham(R) walks past the team's coach Fabio Capello during a training session in Madrid, in this Monday, Oct. 30, 2006 file photo. Capello, now the manager of the English national soccer team, is set to announce his first squad Thursday Jan. 31, 2008 with reports suggesting that Beckham will have to wait for the chance of a 100th national team appearance.(File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Beckham has still to wait for the milestone chance although new manager Capello insisted that the door was still open to the 32-year-old former England captain.

    Keeper Paul Robinson was also dropped off the 30-man squad while Aston Villa's winger Gabriel Agbonlahor and defender Curtis Davies won their first call-ups to a senior England set-up.

    Michael Owen is included despite speculation his lack of form might cost him a place, while Heskey, Liverpool's Peter Crouch and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney complete the strikers.

    Capello harbored reservations about Beckham's match fitness as the midfielder has not played a competitive game since England's Euro qualifying defeat by Croatia on November 21.

    "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.

    "When I spoke with David on the phone yesterday I advised him that he is still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America we will look closely at him again."

    The Italian will name his final 23-man squad on Saturday and also have to make a decision on the issue of who will be captain.

Editor: An Lu
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