UK NEWS
AT LAST...BECKHAM BACK IN ENGLAND FOLD
David Beckham
By Michael Knapp
IT was an issue that divided the nation’s football fans.
Should shunned golden boy David Beckham be brought back into the England fold?
Yesterday the game had its answer when manager Steve McClaren picked Beckham as a member of his latest squad.
The former Manchester United star now has a very good chance of making one of the most remarkable comebacks in football history.
Beckham’s first game for 10 months could be the showpiece friendly against Brazil on Friday. McClaren has repeatedly left out the former captain since taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson.
But he now sees the playmaker as potentially important in his plans if England are to qualify for the 2008 European Championships.
He told reporters yesterday: “We’ve got a very big game in Estonia coming up that we have to win and I’ve got to pick a squad capable of doing that. That’s why I’ve picked David.”
Asked if Beckham, who joins Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer after a spell with Real Madrid, had a long-term future with England, McClaren replied: “That’s for the future.
“You have to plan for the long term but we have to win in the short term.”
BECKHAM BACK IN THE ENGLAND FOLD
28.05.07, 2:00am
At long last Beckham's back. Come on Dave and do your best, now you're back it's time to rub the salt into the wounds of Steve McClaren and all of the other doubters that said you were past it.
Posted by: Dave Report Comment
To view all 'Have Your Say' comments, click this button...