Fabio Capello gives David Beckham England axe

January 31, 2008

Times Online and Agencies

David Beckham has not been named in Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man squad for his first game in charge of England against Switzerland next Wednesday. Paul Robinson, the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, is another notable absentee.

The England manager telephoned the LA Galaxy midfielder - who is just one appearance short of becoming the fifth player to earn 100 England caps - last night to break the news. "I know there has been a lot of discussion about David Beckham," Capello said. "The reason that David is not in the squad is because he has not had any real match practice since playing in November. When I spoke with David on the phone yesterday I advised him that he is still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America we will look closely at him again."

Capello told the 32-year-old he wanted his players to be match-fit, and that naming Beckham in his squad would be unfair on those who have been playing regularly. "I have selected a squad of 30 players as I think it is important that all the players are equal from the beginning," Capello said. "There are a lot of games before we join up and I think it is better that we are prepared for any injuries. This way we are not expecting to call players up as late replacements when I name a 23-man squad on Saturday evening.

"Franco Baldini [Capello's assistant] and I have been watching many games since we arrived in England and we have tried to see as many English players as possible before deciding on the squad. There were a number of players that we already knew about but there are many we have seen playing live for the first time.

"We will use the time between now and our first World Cup qualifying match in September to look at the players and find the best formula for the England team. I will also look at players who have not been included in the squad this time."

Capello has found no space for the experienced trio of Sol Campbell, Phil Neville and Jermain Defoe, but has promoted two uncapped Aston Villa players in Curtis Davies and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

"I have also worked very closely with Stuart Pearce on squad selection and there are some players like Joe Hart, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott and David Wheater who are with the under-21s this time because they have a very important qualification game against Ireland on Tuesday," Capello said. "In the future these are players that could feature in the senior squad. I believe it is very important for everyone that the under-21 team does well and I want to help them achieve success with Stuart."

Capello will trim his squad over the weekend after taking in two Premier League matches. "I will go to the Manchester City - Arsenal match on Saturday, while Franco Baldini will watch Tottenham - Manchester United before I name the final 23-man squad on Saturday," he said.

Provisional England squad: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (Aston Villa), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Man City), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn), Emile Heskey (Wigan), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)