Premier League - Beckham still in frame as Team GB shortlist cut
David Beckham, Gareth Bale, Craig Bellamy, Joe Cole and Steven Fletcher are still under consideration for Stuart Pearce's Olympic football team, Team GB officials have confirmed.
Pearce approached over 200 players to find out whether they would be interested in representing Great Britain this summer and after receiving positive responses from 191 has whittled that down to a 'shortlist' of 80.
Team GB chef de mission Andy Hunt, in an interview with the BBC, claimed all corners of the United Kingdom were represented, including Northern Ireland midfielder Chris Brunt.
Pearce will name an 18-man under-23 squad next month but can include three over-age players.
Hunt claimed that despite continued opposition to the formation of a British team from the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland FAs, all accepted they could not prevent players from taking part.
He also said that clubs, who are not keen on a tournament that will have a considerable impact on their pre-season plans, were also supportive.
“This has been squared with the clubs and with the players," he said.
The draw for the Olympic football tournament will be made at Wembley Stadium next week and the 1.5 million tickets that remain will also go back on sale.
Comment 67 - 87 of 87
Beckham does not deserve a place in team GB, he no longer wants to live in this country as he has made it quite clear, why should this country help his ego, get lost Beckham. There surely must be decent football players living in this country who deserve a place in team GB.
David beckham, a truely great player no doubt about that. But he has not played in the english league for 7/8 years. Went abroad to chase the big bucks and has said recently the u.s.a. Is where i want to live. O.k. David you made your choice. But i can name a dozen players some who have played for one team, some for 15 seasons plus with one team. That is the true olympic spirit [giggs for example]. But carry on brown nosing lord coe and you may get your dream to come true.
bums on seats and sofas up and down the country packed i for one want to see Becks in the GB team hes played for his money and fame let him have his last international hurrah
Professional Players of all sports Have A very unfair Advantage over those who participate in what is considered an amateur staus games any one know if rules are being bent/abused /or just ignored
I have difficulty thinking of one Scottish footballer who stands out. Plenty of good Scottish Managers but very few players.
I believe that overpaid footballers should not be in the Olympic games. The original ethos of the games has well gone.
never has a man wasted so many free kicks because he likes to be the hero why would any england team want him near them all the other players know he is a has been that's why he plays is in america
His record as England captain was appalling, his defensive skills were non-existent, and his score rate from a free kick works out at one in 400. For Roberto Carlos it was one in 40. Cant play, never could, and should not.
Thought this team represented players from the UK Mr Beckham doesn't live in the UK so why pick him ???? There are still plenty of good UK footballers to choose from without him !!!!
What a load of utter rubbish, Scottish footballers with egos that's a laugh, they may be footballers from Scotland but they aren't Billy Bremners, Denis Laws, Archie Gemmills, Jim Baxters or Dave Mackays. Those guys would have died for their country and so would David Beckham for his. Some fool who doesn't have a brain the size of a pea has a go at where Beckham's lad is born in order to to use that as a vulgar moronic slur on his father( some of you may have to read the relevant comment a few times before you undertand ), it's a common chant by the neanderthals, and every club has them, when the manager son of a certain manager father visits their ground. David Beckham has given thousands of hours for charity, especially kids charities, he has handled both wealth and fame impeccably and has always been a teriffic ambassador for his country and his profession. I hope he lights the Olympic flame, captains the Olympic team and scores the winning goal and ends up with a gold medal. Just in case anyone is wondering, no I'm not his dad, I'm just a football fan who has supported LUFC for over 50 years and recognises talent when I see it. Even if he did play for the Mancs.
If the curent England Squad put half the comitment into the National side as Beckmam has done then they would be in with a chance of winning something, Beckmam would bring a calming influance to the younger members of the Olimpic Squad and if he were to play for only half an hour that would make the difference between winning or losing, I remember Sir Alf Ramsey picked Jimmy Arnfield for the 1966 squad as calming influance for the younger players in his squad and it worked for him.
to all beckham haters. he was instrumental for man utd winning 6 titles with them. his crossing from the right provided loads and loads of goals for andy coal and dwight york, then sheringham and was perfect with his crosses for Ruud van Nistelrooy. man utd did not win anything for 3 years after he left until ronaldo was up to speed on the right. for englandhe was the best crosser and passer of a ball since glen hoddle and only scoles and steven gerrard have come close since. was the best player in the 2nd half of the season in 2008 when real madrid won the title, 2 trips to italy and record cap holder for england. 62 as captain. if you are going to hate, one i don't feel sorry for you because you are not worth it and two his record speak for itself. of course he should go to the olympics, he can still perfom at a high level for 45 mins at least and deserves the chance of a signing off, because who cares if we win or lose the olympic title. now go back to looking fat and complaining on the sofa all the haters. lol.
He's only after publicity as usual, should have been written off years ago, seriously what major achievement have England had while he's been in the team? exactly none.
Ok, if there are only three players over 23, he shouldn't really be one based on the fact that there are players in that age bracket from Britain who are better suited. He's getting on a bit, he's no longer part of England's plans, etc. It amazes me though that so many people love to criticize him. "One lucky goal", "Never a great player"?! What?! I saw him play some brilliant games for club and country. He always gave 100%, especially for England, which is more than can be said for so many of the other modern stars. He never gave up on playing again for England, he went out of his way to do so. What does he get out of it? Not financial reward, he truly loves his country. So many times he was the only one on the field running himself into the ground. Great guy too. Try achieving that with the fortune and fame he has. I have nothing but admiration for him.
Will Germany be bringing Beckenbauer out of retirement ?
Luckily his kid wasn't conceived in Scunthorpe !
I never rated Beckham.One lucky goal against Wimbledon,will Mark Hudson get the same exposure...no.He's now playing his football at Goals.He must have promised Stuart Pearce half hour with his missus.
@86 - Is that why he went to AC Milan twice?
Just shows how poor this team will be. As they are still considering a player playing retirement football who was well past his prime 6 years ago. Also shows why Pearce should be nowhere near either this or the England set up at all. He just doesn't have a clue.
phillip 80 .. I am not racist, never have been, cant even understand why you think this, I believe we are talking about an overrated footballer?. this is the guy the Italiens wondered what all the fuss was about, they had hundreds of players with more basic skills than Beckham had,and he probably went to the USA as he knew it, but would still impress the yanks.
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