May I be the first to say..

[Legend_Killer33]

Fuck Yes

Former captain David Beckham has been named in the England squad for the first time since the 2006 World Cup.

Coach Steve McClaren's U-turn means Beckham, 32, is set to start Friday's friendly against Brazil followed by the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia.

[stokeriño]

I don't think you're really "the first to say"...

Well, we'll see. I'm all for McClaren trying anything different from what he's done so far. I did enjoy watching his interview on Football Focus having to say how awesome a player Beckham is etc etc. when asked to justify why he's added him to the team now. Hi-larious.

Edited May 27, 2007 by stokeriño

[Lineker]

Is it cOLD... never mind.

But Beckham does deserve it.

[Legend_Killer33]

I know it's old but there wasn't a topic about it here so I thought I'd make one

[Hobo]

meh....it's David Beckham not the second coming of Christ. Once he's playing in the MLS he's probably not going to be playing much if at all for England anyway, mostly due to the traveling.

[alldaws1]

meh....it's David Beckham not the second coming of Christ. Once he's playing in the MLS he's probably not going to be playing much if at all for England anyway, mostly due to the traveling.

The majority of England's games take place during MLS's offseason. Travelling wouldn't be an issue.

Edited May 28, 2007 by AD

[Chris 161291]

Im happy to see Becks back in the team. I think now he will reach 100 caps, but i think if he was back in the England squad before he would not have signed for LA Galaxy.

[Summers]

it's probably Beckham's send off. What better way, a friendly against Brazil?

[Ignition]

I doubt it'e Beckhams send off. I'm glad he's back, I don't see why he can't perform really well. I say drop Lampard and have the midfield be: J.Cole,Hargreaves/Carrick,Gerrard,Beckham. I think that's very strong.

[Legend_Killer33]

Dropping Lampard would be foolish. But I hope Beckham will be at least on the bench at Euro 08 and makes a few appearances

[Lord Nibbler]

Dropping Lampard would be foolish.

[IAceI]

Because he's called Lampard and until recently he's always been a big England name, and England are a big name team! No one wants to see Barry or Nolan, we want Lampard! No matter how piss poor he plays. >_>

Thing is, Lampard is a very, very good player. He just doesn't do much for England.

[Matt]

He hasn't done that much for Chelsea this year either. Has Lampard ever done well for England? Has he scored? (Note: They're serious questions, I don't recall either)

[insert your typical 16 goals this year response here]

[alldaws1]

He hasn't done that much for Chelsea this year either. Has Lampard ever done well for England? Has he scored? (Note: They're serious questions, I don't recall either)

[insert your typical 16 goals this year response here]

It may be a typical response, but he does score a lot of goals for Chelsea and if you don't think that's not doing much for the club then you should re-read the aim of the game.

He hasn't been good for England for a long time though. He gets into space enough to take some of his pop shots but even those aren't coming close. I think it's been proven you should have Gerrard or Lampard and based on their performances at international level, you have to go with Stevie G.

[Matt]

But in fairness, most of those 16 goals would've been scored just as easily by other good players. I'm not denying Lampard isn't good, but this season he hasn't been at his best - nowhere near it. Yes he's still worthy of being in the squad, but the team... not unless he gets back to his best (ala Beckham).

[therockbox]

:lmao: at Beckham being back to his best.

Honestly, people moan about DA BECKHAM HATERZ not giving him a chance, but the people that defend him no matter what are even worse.

[Dan]

He hasn't done that much for Chelsea this year either. Has Lampard ever done well for England? Has he scored? (Note: They're serious questions, I don't recall either)

[insert your typical 16 goals this year response here]

13 times infact. 1 More than Wayne Rooney in just 15 games more, that's not bad for a midfielder.

& 1 more than Gerrard in less games

Edited May 28, 2007 by Dan

[TheArsenal]

To continue the England theme....

Defensive duo Rio Ferdinand and Michael Dawson have been forced to pull out of the England squad to face Brazil and Estonia because of groin injuries.

Liverpool's Jamie Carragher could come in for Friday's friendly against Brazil at Wembley and the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia in Tallinn on 6 June.

David Beckham is set to cap his England comeback by starting in both games.

The former captain is set to play after Tottenham's Aaron Lennon withdrew from the squad because of a knee injury.

Ferdinand and Dawson's withdrawal leaves England manager Steve McClaren with a defensive headache.

Gary Neville, Ashley Cole, Jonathan Woodgate and Micah Richards have already been ruled out, meaning McClaren is now without three of his four first-choice defenders.

Cole's back-up at left-back Wayne Bridge is also a major doubt for the Brazil game at the new Wembley Stadium, with Reading's Nicky Shorey standing by for his first full cap.

Carragher and Ledley King will compete for the right to partner skipper John Terry in defence and, if Carragher is chosen, Phil Neville is almost certain to come in at right-back.

Lennon was ruled out after twisting a knee during England B's 3-1 win against Albania last Friday.

This means coach Steve McClaren is ready to start with Real Madrid midfielder Beckham against the Brazilians.

Beckham has not played for England since he came off injured in the World Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Portugal last July, after which he announced his resignation as captain.

England will then travel to Estonia for a must-win Euro 2008 qualifier.

Victory in Tallinn is imperative, not only to England's chances of reaching next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland but also to McClaren's hopes of remaining in a job.

Lennon is one of the players he has tried on the right but McClaren rejected claims he was merely hoping Beckham would save his own skin, insisting that the decision to resurrect his international career was taken after the friendly defeat by Spain at Old Trafford in February.

[Lineker]

Please..... not Phil Neville...

[IAceI]

Carra shouldn't be coming in whatsoever, he should been starting to begin with ahead of Rio anyways.