Does Beckham deserve a sentimental ending?

As with everything that surrounds "Golden Balls" there has been outrage over the last week since Stuart Pearce announced that there would be no place for Beckham on the Team GB Football squad.


Most of the outrage focuses on the fact that David deserves his last hurrah and that a sentimental approach should have been taken to the squad selection.


So let's look at the argument...

Beckham has done so much for the Olympic bid

Well he's done some things but how much deserves a place on the squad? I'm not sure, he's been pictured with the flame quite a lot and has lent his presence to certain events. Is this enough or if he had done more would he have been guaranteed a place?

Also, Craig Bellamy seems to have done sod all for the Olympics so how did he get his place?

This argument is seriously flawed because the only reason it can be used is if by doing what he did for the bid David thought he would automatically get a place. Now, if he thought that, he was not giving his time selflessly as everyone proclaims but doing what he needed to do to guarantee a spot. 

Surely Becks would never have done this.

Beckham deserves a place for his England heroics

Most of us feel Beckham was an average player in an over hyped England team. What exactly did we achieve when he played?

Yep, he's had his moments. The free-kick against Greece for instance and the sheer number of times he's worn the 3 lions. We also need to remember his petulant kick and subsequent sending off. 

David has served his country well and would never let us down but that in itself is it's own reward. Fabio Capello indulged Beckham with a final cap that allowed his adoring public to applaud his contribution. This was a fitting end to a great International Career. No one owes him another.

It's just disrespectful?

Probably the most desperate of all arguments and one made by Gary Linekar of all people. Again, the only reason it is disrespectful is if David expected to be chosen. He himself has said he did not want picking as a token gesture. Can't we take him at his word? 

He is still good enough

Easy one this. No he isn't!

David tried unsuccessfully to tout himself around Europe in the US closed season and guess what. There were no bidders. 

David is playing in a league that equates to our Championship at best but can't really hold down a place. He spent a great deal of time on the bench and has little impact any more.

The games will be rubbish without him

Tell that to Spain, Mexico and Brazil who will use this tournament to blood new recruits for the full International team. Tell that to Argentina who didn't even qualify.


It boils down to you either love football and therefore couldn't give a stuff if David's there or you love Beckham and therefore couldn't probably give a stuff about football. But you've got his aftershave.


Let's face it. The only reason any coach picks a professional sports team at any level is because they want to try to win. Stuart Pearce wants to try to win and thinks his chances are greater without David.


Sir Alex did not think twice when Beckham became superfluous and Stuart Pearce should be commended for his professionalism.


There's no logic behind picking him. There's no reason in his performance. Surely  we never promised him a place for his ambassadorship. 


Finally, there's no room for sentiment.