English FA deny Beckham recall talks

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LONDON (AFP) - The Football Association has dismissed out of hand a report that England manager Steve McLaren held talks with senior players about a recall for former captain David Beckham.
A Sunday newspaper claimed McClaren is considering including the 31-year-old Real Madrid player in his squad for the vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Israel on March 24.
That came despite McClaren saying last Wednesday that he had no plans to speak to Beckham although he has also said in the past that he would never close the door on any player regarding selection.
And the FA stressed that McClaren has not consulted players on the possibility of a return for Beckham, who was sent off in Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Real Betis on Saturday.
FA director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "I have spoken to Steve McClaren regarding this story and he is categoric that there is no truth whatsoever in this."
Beckham stood down as England captain on July 2 of last year after England's exit from the World Cup finals and on August 11 McClaren dropped him from the England squad for friendly against Greece, his first match as manager.

 

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I don't know why Real Madrid have allowed Beckham to play for them again. A few months ago they said they won't allow him to play again for them after he decided to sign for Los Angeles Galaxy to start playing for them at the end of the Spanish football season. They treated like dirt and the manager, Fabio Capello, said that he is not able to score from free kicks anymore.

So what happened when they decided to let him play again for the rest of the season until he moves to LA Galaxy? He scored from a free kick.

Anyway, I'm not sure whether or not McClaren should bring him back to play against Israel and Andorra in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. We've got plenty of good midfielders without him - Lampard, Gerrard, Hargreaves etc.