March 15, 2010

Beckham To Miss World Cup?: The idea was that David Beckham would get more quality playing time in Italy than the U.S. and therefore a better chance of making Fabio Capello's England side this summer. Instead, Becks' "dream of playing in a fourth World Cup looks to be over after he tore his left Achilles tendon in AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo on Sunday." Fabio Capello seems resigned to being without Beckham for the World Cup finals in June saying "[w]e have to wait for the results of the scan but it looks like he is out of the World Cup." Beckham is understandably a bit more optimistic, and wants to wait until after he has had surgery, but others think it may be the end of his career.

posted by scully to soccer at 11:46 AM - 10 comments

Nice post. Great links.

I question the Guardian writer's logic in declaring Beckham's career over, simply based on the idea that "the prospect of another season with LA Galaxy is unlikely to push even this most dedicated of professionals to those brutally hard yards in rehabilitation over the next six months."

Though Beckham's international career is over, his relentless pursuit of celebrity is probably enough motivation to rehab the tendon and come back, either to the U.S. or a big international club.

posted by rcade at 02:36 PM on March 15, 2010

I think Capello is more relieved, than concerned. Then again, Capello is not my kind of manager...and Beckham is a decent player, not great. Capello has many options...too bad one of them isn't stepping away from managing the team.

posted by StarFucker at 08:29 PM on March 15, 2010

Three minutes to go in a quarter final, with scores level, and England get a free kick 25 yards out. Capello sends Beckham on as a sub to take it.

Probably the only time he gets on the pitch for the tournament.

posted by owlhouse at 08:33 PM on March 15, 2010

Does anyone know of an athlete his age coming back from a torn Achilles heal?

posted by jc at 09:00 PM on March 15, 2010

Post-surgery the doctor said six months recovery. Talk about incentive: Just in time for the Galaxy's playoff push.

posted by billsaysthis at 09:25 PM on March 15, 2010

Not as Beckhamly bendable any more.

posted by irunfromclones at 11:20 PM on March 15, 2010

Mend It Like Beckham?

/sees self out.

posted by owlhouse at 11:24 PM on March 15, 2010

So what they're saying is England might win now we're not caught up in the cult of Beckham?

posted by Drood at 03:06 AM on March 16, 2010

I'm half dozing here as I read, so when I read "Beckham To Miss World Cup," I imagined David was writing letters or making calls to some sort of football related beauty contest winner.

posted by Joey Michaels at 08:27 PM on March 16, 2010

"Does anyone know of an athlete his age coming back from a torn Achilles heal?"

He's only 33-34...thats not old. I was playing some of my best soccer just 2 years ago when i was 39. Granted i wasn't playing as a pro, but i was playing against OTHER players who weren't either between the ages of 18 and 40. I was the fastest guy on the pitch, believe it or not... :P I was covered by 2 defenseman as a minimum most games.

Beckham, being a pro with all that training and physical fitness can surely go on until he's 40 or more. Especially in the MLS...coming back from this will be simple. Coming back in time for the World Cup may be more difficult...

posted by StarFucker at 09:59 PM on March 16, 2010

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