With stellar performances for Real Madrid, David Beckham may have finally got what he wanted most since the 2006 football world cup, a recall to the English squad. And when his wish finally came true last Friday, he must have seen his dream of 100 international caps for his country finally getting closer. But things have a way of turning sour. And now there is a presumable road block to his aspirations. His new club, LA Galaxy.
Beckham had signed for the Major League Soccer club from Real Madrid on a five year deal worth $250 million. And although it maybe one of the best moves business wise for the club and of course for Beckham as a brand, but considering his ambitions of international appearances for his country, he might have just suffered a blow. The reason is that the MLS is played from April to January, a run of 30 games, and then they have four months off. During that period, the teams get along on fitness regimes and training sessions for their players, in short, everything the European clubs do in their pre-season build up. There was talk of Beckham moving to either one of Newcastle, Everton or Tottenham during this period on a 3 month loan deal, but it has been shot down.
While England will be busy in their run in for the Euro 2008, the MLS season would be in full swing. And that is what concerns the people in charge at LA. Their general manager Alexei Lalas has gone so far as to claim that this ‘business deal’ needs to be honoured for the betterment of the club as well as the sport in America. And saying so, he has added that it would be better if Beckham were to be chosen for only ‘meaningful games’. This hasn’t gone down well with either FIFA or the FA, not to mention the English boss, Steve Mclaren. They seem to be asking the LA manager, what are meaningful games, when it comes to playing for one’s country.
The reason is simple. England play a majority of their qualifiers in the autumn. That’s against Russia twice, Israel and Estonia. Throw in some friendly matches too and all the tickets that have been sold because of the superstar’s arrival at Los Angeles would go waste. Again the other important point is that it would also be the time that LA Galaxy might be in the title hunt and not to have one of their most experienced players in the thick of things would only hurt the club’s football aspirations.
What does this mean for David Beckham then? Is his move a bad one then? Will he have to give up his pursuit of 100 caps and maybe later on, hang his international jersey forever? Well one can’t say if he will be in the radar of Steve Mclaren after these two matches, the friendly against Brazil at the new Wembley and the Euro ‘08 qualifier against Estonia. It all depends on his performances, which will be with Real Madrid for two more weeks and later with LA Galaxy. And that is where he will tend to lose out. Quite a few players are knocking on the doors for Mclaren to fill up the right flank position, where Beckham usually plays. The front runner is Tottenham’s Arron Lennon who is currently out with injury and then there is Shawn Wright Phillips, who has given some stellar performances for Chelsea this season. Not to forget, Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant who only just missed out on this recent selection. All these players will be playing throughout England’s run to the European championships.
One can clearly see that age is not on his side. He needs to play constantly till the run up to the Euro 2008 championships was over, so as to stay in the public eye and more importantly the manager’s, for team selection. Thus the loan deal being rejected will be his biggest blow. The only card he has in hand is via his performances. If he can constantly catch the headlines with his performances for LA Galaxy, rather than his image, it would hold him in good stead. No other way out for the first ever superstar to play in MLS, David Beckham.
Via: BBC Sports
Via: BBC Sports
