Features

Becks could miss record

Author: John Harris
Date: 18/11/2009
Football betting

David Beckham's dream of beating Peter Shilton's England international appearance record appears to be over after he was forced to miss England's friendly against Brazil on Saturday in Doha, Qatar.

With manager Fabio Capello aiming to squeeze just three more World Cup warm-up matches in ahead of the show-piece event in the summer, the former national team captain would have to play in the three friendlies and seven potential games at the World Cup to equal Shilton's record of 125 caps.

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Beckham missed the Brazil clash after LA Galaxy's MLS Western Conference final was played over the same weekend and this has further stymied his aspirations to smash the glove-man's record.

Former boss Steve McClaren froze Beckham out of his thoughts when he succeeded Sven Goran-Eriksson in the hot-seat following the 2006 World Cup and he missed a total of nine games before the under-pressure boss recalled him towards the end of the ill-fated Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

He returned to the set-up for the first game at the new Wembley Stadium, against Brazil where he immediately proved his worth with a pin-point centre for John Terry to head home the opener in the game that finished in a 1-1 draw.

This break from the international scene has certainly restricted the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man, two of the teams that are among the online favourites to win this season's Champions League.

If he had featured in these games he would have been within touching distance of the individual milestone.

Beckham, locked on 115 caps, is expected to bow out of England reckoning after the World Cup but the 34-year-old sits in second place in the England leading list of cap winners.

Bobby Moore, World Cup winning captain in 1966, is in third position with 108 caps and former Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton, on 106 caps, is fourth.

Wolverhampton Wanderers legend Billy Wright, who won 105 caps, is currently fifth in the all-time list and these are the only five ever to break the 100-appearance barrier.

Of the current crop of players, Chelsea's Ashley Cole, with 77 games to his name, is the 15th highest appearance maker while Manchester United duo Michael Owen (89) and Gary Neville (85) could struggle to add to their proud record at international level as Capello continues to overlook them.

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