Beckham could still be England's World Cup winner

By Oliver Holt in Mirror Football Blog

Published 15:17 15/03/10

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By Oliver Holt

Fabio Capello should still take David Beckham to the World Cup in South Africa.

When the plane takes off for Johannesburg on June 2, Beckham should be sitting on it with the rest of the squad.

Not as one of the 23 because it will be beyond even him to recover in time from the sickening Achilles tendon injury he sustained in the San Siro on Sunday night.

But he should be there, nonetheless, as a member of Capello's staff, a link between manager and players. If Capello doesn't take him, it will be a mistake.

Those who have already argued that Beckham's loss to England is not such a big deal because he was only a fringe player are missing the point.

They're right about the fact that he was not likely to get into Capello's first team and that his on-field contributions would probably have been limited to cameos.

Beckham was still one of the most technically gifted players in the England set-up, and the best with the dead-ball, but it was unlikely that he would have started games in South Africa.

But there was a reason why, despite the particularly fierce competition for midfield places, Capello had all but guaranteed Beckham a place in the final squad.

Capello recognised Beckham's human qualities as well as his footballing ones and he realised that his generosity of spirit and his wealth of experience would be crucial on a high-pressure trip that took a group of young men away from home for up to six weeks.

Capello also knew that many of the younger players, players like Theo Walcott, looked up to Beckham and valued his advice and encouragement.

Beckham had played in three World Cups. He knew all about the pressures the tournament would bring. Capello knew that his class would be useful in the later stages of games.

But he also knew that during long, tense days cooped up in the England training base in Rustenburg, or dealing with the demands of the media, Beckham would be a good tourist.

He had seen from the dignified manner in which Beckham reacted to Capello banishing him from the first team squad at Real Madrid that the former England captain had grace under pressure.

He knew he would be able to bolster the confidence of a player who was struggling, that he would be able to put an arm around the shoulder of one of the less experienced players and keep their spirits up.

Capello and the rest of his existing staff are not exactly big on pastoral care. They don't do nice.

Beckham may have been phoned by Capello on Sunday night but that was because it was obvious straight away that his chances of playing in South Africa were probably over.

That lack of support and empathy doesn't matter so much when the players only have to deal with it for a few days at a time but at a tournament, it will be a weakness in Capello's armoury.

Part of the reason for Beckham's inclusion in the squad was to cure that weakness and that is why Capello should still take him.

This is a man who has played with World Cup greats like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. This is a man who has played against people like Rivaldo and Gabriel Batistuta in World Cups.

He is the most experienced World Cup player we have and he is someone who could help guide the younger players through the tournament.

Why not use that experience? Why not harness it? Why don't we, for once in our World Cup history, do something slightly imaginative and take Beckham along?

Beckham might not be able to kick a ball in South Africa but he could still help win us the World Cup.

Capello: Beckham injury is a big blow

Beckham hopes to make 'full and swift recovery'

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