Beckham: was it right not to include him in the Olympics football squad?

He said he was "disappointed" not to have been selected in the team. Gutted more like! The media said he was betrayed because he had done so much to bring the olympics to London.

The 3 overage selected were Bellamy, Giggs and Richards.[NSFW][/NSFW]

Was this the right decision?

 

No.

Whilst I know the correct thing to do is select the team on merit I think after everything he does for his country he should have been given this oppurtunity.

 

As a football fan, not it wasn't. He's done more than enough to deserve a spot in the Olympic squad both on and off the pitch. After how poor England's midfield was in the Euros I think you can even make a case for Beckham to get a spot in the Euro squad.

As a Galaxy fan, I'm glad he's not going as he won't be missing a large chunk of games to go play in an almost meaningless tournament. That's my opinion anyways.

 

As useless as Olympic football is you go there to win and don't pick players for sentimentality or sponsorship. He's had more than enough favours from the FA as is. So he worked as an ambassador to get the Olympics, so what? Doesn't mean he has to be selected.

 

I feel sorry for him but I think it was tHe right decision. The team would have been a circus and he would have overshadowed every one in the team. Every thing would have been about Beckham. We should be grateful for his contribution as an ambassador but does not mean that he should play for the national team.

 

No, he is to old, and he lives in Merkin land.

 

You sound Jelly.

 

It's a competitive football tournament and should be used to give young players tournament experience before a World Cup qualifying campaign. For helping us get the poxy Olympics he and Seb Coe should be publicly beaten. Name something after him if you want to give him some sort of thank you gift.

 

I would have given him a place for sentimentality reasons but in reality the three selected are better footballers with Beckham as old as he is now. Sad, but i can accept it.

 

he should of gone. Its a disgrace to not take him

 

Poor choice. The olympics are a friendly tournament and one of the least important sports at the games is football. Hockey is far far ahead of olympic football for **** sake.

Beckham should of been given a place in the team to say thankyou for getting us the games. Without Beckhams global appeals and brand we probably wouldnt of got the games anyway.

Respect to him for coming out and saying he will be backing the team regardless.

Also this will have nothing to do with the England team in 2014, nothing at all. Its Great Britain not England.

 

It has everything to do with the future of the England team, as well as other GB teams. It's useful experience for British youngsters including English. Last time I checked England is a part of Great Britain. Of course Bellamy and Giggs aren't there for the future, but at least they have done something in recent times to suggest they still got something to offer.

And in all honesty, what exactly is there to be sentimental about in Beckham's England career? He is as much responsible for England being rubbish in major tournaments during the last 15 years or so as any player of the so-called golden generation. I could understand a level of sentimentality if he had actually helped the England team achieve something but he hasn't.

 

Have you ever thought England just aren't as good as they think they are? Everyone just sits and blames highest profile player in the squad and put the blame on a single person for the whole teams shortcomings. When in reality England has been pretty poor for quite some time, and yet it is Beckham's or Rooney's fault they couldn't drag the mediocre squad you call the England National Team.

Anyways Beckham is better than most people give him credit for, he's still fit and can hit the ball on a dime. Sure he's not fast and he won't be an enforcer in the midfield, but he's adapted his game to be a deep lying playmaker. Pair him up with a workhorse and let him pass the ball, he's still one of the very few English footballers that can pass.

Anyways UHMERICA > England.

 

Beckham shouldn't have gone.

Richards should have been in the England squad imo and Giggs and Bellamy can still cut it in the PL, Becks can't.

I don't think Giggs and Bellamy have ever played in a major international tournament either so if anyone "deserves" anything it's the three that were picked.

Anyone else find the whole Irish/Welsh/Scottich FA's argument about not wanting their players to take part in case it sets a precedent for a team GB in all FIFA comps incredibly retarded? It's not even the head up their own arse nationalism of it that annoys me but the fact its all stupid conjecture with no basis in reality.

 

This.

Also, could it be that the other FAs were worried that it would become an England team and a couple of others, ie. a Welshman, a Scot being picked to make it a GB team.

 

Cheeky monkey

 

Except apparently there won't be any players from Scotland or N. Ireland in the squad.

 

What makes you think Becks can't cut it in the PL? Have you watched him play at all in the last few years? Or are you just basing your opinion on the fact he plays in the MLS? Landon Donavon plays in the MLS, but was one of the best players in the PL for the two months he was at Everton, and Beckham had a much better season than Donavan did. The MLS is a much better league than it was a few years ago and the top bracket of players could play in the top leagues across Europe.

 

It's the Olympics. Every other athlete participating for the UK has to qualify on their athletic record this season and not on their past profile or off pitch activities. Selecting Beckham would be a slap in the face for both those who were selected and those who only just missed-out!

 

Its got **** all to do with england. And playing the young english players in proper competitive matches is the only way we will ever improve. The olympics is just a second rate football tournament used as filler in the games.