Manager Stuart Pearce, for some reason, chose Craig Bellamy of Liverpool, Manchester City’s Micah Richards, and United’s Ryan Giggs as his three over agers. McCartney strongly disagrees with Pearce’s decision to leave the 37-year-old Beckham out of the team especially since he’s done so much to help secure the Olympics for Britain and help promote them.
McCartney, speaking to Short List, said “I would’ve thought first choice would be Beckham because of his huge contribution to getting the Olympics. But, you know, some idiot decided otherwise. I feel a bit sorry for the three over-23-year-olds, because we’re going to be looking at them and going, ‘That should’ve been Beckham.’ He’s a national hero. And it would’ve been great for him to lead out our British team, but someone somewhere said… What did they say? So-and-so’s playing better. Like it matters.”
After watching Beckham play this season Pearce’s reasoning that there were better players available just doesn’t cut it. Beckham’s played 19 games so far this season and has scored six goals and created five more while playing with MLS champions LA Galaxy with Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan as his teammates. He also led the MLS All-Star team to a 3-2 win over Chelsea on July 25 by setting up the game-tying goal in the 72nd minute before being substituted. MLS went on to win the match in the last minute.
Even though Beckham’s been left off the British team he’s
still doing all he can to help promote the Games. He flew to London earlier in
the week to take part in events, flew back to America and landed at 1am,
proceeded to play 73 minutes in the All-Star game against Chelsea that night and then flew
back to England to help out in the opening ceremonies. He flies from continent to continent, plays his games and gladly gives his time
to help the cause. He does this without a bad word for anybody while players half his age
complain about having to play two games in a week.
McCartney’s dead on in his assessment of Pearce.
