David Beckham has been recalled to England's squad for their forthcoming matches against Austria and Croatia.
Beckham had missed England's last four games with a knee injury but the LA Galaxy midfielder is back for next Friday's friendly in Austria and the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia at Wembley the following Wednesday.
England coach Steve McClaren flew to Los Angeles last weekend to assess Beckham's fitness and he left convinced the former Manchester United star is ready to handle two matches in six days, despite barely having played for his club in the last 10 weeks.
Beckham should win his 98th and 99th caps for his country in these two matches, but could be left stuck one short of a century if England fail to qualify for Euro 2008.
With speculation mounting that England's likely elimination from the race for Euro 2008 will see McClaren lose his job, the coach has named a 26-man squad for what could be his last two matches in charge.
England captain John Terry is missing as he recovers from knee surgery, while Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been left out because he is suspended for the qualifier.
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole returns after an ankle injury and Owen Hargreaves is also back from injury.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Aston Villa)
Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Phil Neville (Everton)
Midfielders: David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Strikers: Alan Smith (Newcastle), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Wayne Rooney (Manche United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)
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Friday, November 9, 2007
Calcio Debate: Should Trezeguet Retire From The France National Team?
France Coach Raymond Domenech issued another sensational snub to David Trezeguet by not including him in his squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier with Ukraine. Carlo Garganese asks whether Trezegol should now retire from international football…
It has been well documented in recent weeks about how Juventus striker David Trezeguet has made the best start to a club season in his entire career. The 30-year-old has hit ten goals in 11 appearances for the Bianconeri and is way clear at the top of the Serie A scorers chart.
Indeed as one Italian journalist pointed out a week or so ago, if Trezeguet continues at this rate of scoring, he will end up with nearly 40 league goals by the end of the season.
Not bad going in a league renowned as the toughest and meanest in world football!
Unfortunately France boss Raymond Domenech is not impressed with Trezeguet’s incredible form and after dropping him for last month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Lithuania and the Faroe Islands, he repeated the trick by snubbing him for the November 21 trip to Ukraine.
Trezeguet was understandably furious with being rebuffed last month and admitted that he was considering retiring from the French national team.
“I don’t understand it. Domenech says he calls up players because of their performances for their clubs. Well it’s the best start to a season I have ever had,” Trezeguet told L’Equipe.
“I’m seriously considering quitting international football.
“I have been playing for France since 1997 and those 10 years are a long time to me.”
There is no doubt in my mind that Domenech’s motive for not picking Trezeguet is certainly not football-related.
The pair have been at loggerheads ever since Trezeguet criticised the Coach for accusing the Italy Under-21 squad of match-fixing a game back in 2000.
Domenech also recently insulted Trezeguet by saying that there was nothing special about him and there were other French forwards just as good.
To say this about someone who has scored more than 200 club goals during his career and has struck 34 times for France in just 70 appearances, is quite frankly a disgrace.
“Domenech is choosing not to pick me and I think that the way he has treated me is frankly unacceptable,” Trezeguet recently said.
The lack of respect that Domenech has shown for a player who is one of the most prolific forwards in European football history should not be tolerated.
If I was Trezeguet I would be announcing my retirement from international football and I would only consider coming out of my retreat once Domenech had left his post.
Speculation in Italy suggests that Trezeguet is indeed set to announce his retirement in the coming days and I believe that it is really sad that such a great player is being forced away by the downright stubbornness of a man who is disliked by most of the football community.
What are your views on this topic? Should Trezeguet retire from the France national team? What do you think about Domenech not selecting him? We want to know what you think
It has been well documented in recent weeks about how Juventus striker David Trezeguet has made the best start to a club season in his entire career. The 30-year-old has hit ten goals in 11 appearances for the Bianconeri and is way clear at the top of the Serie A scorers chart.
Indeed as one Italian journalist pointed out a week or so ago, if Trezeguet continues at this rate of scoring, he will end up with nearly 40 league goals by the end of the season.
Not bad going in a league renowned as the toughest and meanest in world football!
Unfortunately France boss Raymond Domenech is not impressed with Trezeguet’s incredible form and after dropping him for last month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Lithuania and the Faroe Islands, he repeated the trick by snubbing him for the November 21 trip to Ukraine.
Trezeguet was understandably furious with being rebuffed last month and admitted that he was considering retiring from the French national team.
“I don’t understand it. Domenech says he calls up players because of their performances for their clubs. Well it’s the best start to a season I have ever had,” Trezeguet told L’Equipe.
“I’m seriously considering quitting international football.
“I have been playing for France since 1997 and those 10 years are a long time to me.”
There is no doubt in my mind that Domenech’s motive for not picking Trezeguet is certainly not football-related.
The pair have been at loggerheads ever since Trezeguet criticised the Coach for accusing the Italy Under-21 squad of match-fixing a game back in 2000.
Domenech also recently insulted Trezeguet by saying that there was nothing special about him and there were other French forwards just as good.
To say this about someone who has scored more than 200 club goals during his career and has struck 34 times for France in just 70 appearances, is quite frankly a disgrace.
“Domenech is choosing not to pick me and I think that the way he has treated me is frankly unacceptable,” Trezeguet recently said.
The lack of respect that Domenech has shown for a player who is one of the most prolific forwards in European football history should not be tolerated.
If I was Trezeguet I would be announcing my retirement from international football and I would only consider coming out of my retreat once Domenech had left his post.
Speculation in Italy suggests that Trezeguet is indeed set to announce his retirement in the coming days and I believe that it is really sad that such a great player is being forced away by the downright stubbornness of a man who is disliked by most of the football community.
What are your views on this topic? Should Trezeguet retire from the France national team? What do you think about Domenech not selecting him? We want to know what you think
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