Capello will only select Beckham on playing merit

Published on Tuesday 10 February 2009 22:00

FABIO Capello insists that David Beckham is in the England squad on merit, not out of sympathy.

Beckham will earn a place in the history books if he plays some part in tonight's friendly international with Spain in Seville. The appearance would allow him to pick up his 108th cap and equal Bobby Moore's record for an outfield player.

The accolade has irritated some of Beckham's fiercest critics, who feel the 33-year-old is not fit to lace Moore's boots. However, any thought that Capello has picked the former Manchester United player out of kindness can be dismissed immediately. The Italian does not pick any team from such motives – and never will do.

"I choose players in the best form," said Capello. "When I picked a squad last February, Beckham was not in it because he was not playing.

"Now he is here, But that is solely because he is a good player. He is not here for sympathy. I would never pick a player for those reasons."

Capello was keeping everyone guessing on whether Beckham would pick up that special 108th cap tonight and insisted that his team had not been finalised. "Perhaps he will play but I am not sure at moment," he added. "I still have to choose the first 11."

Beckham has expressed a desire to remain with AC Milan when his short-term loan from Los Angeles Galaxy comes to an end in March. Capello is not one for offering public pieces of advice, especially to someone who handles his own public relations so diligently. But the Italian is stating the obvious when he describes life in Italy as far tougher than Beckham's experiences in Major League Soccer.

"It is David's choice whether he stays in Milan," said Capello. "But the US championship is not the same as Italy. The level is a lot different."

For that reason, Capello can give no guarantees about whether he will pick the midfielder in future squads. "I don't like talking about 'ifs'," he said. "It is important for the squad he is here at the moment. He is playing well with AC Milan and perhaps he will play (against Spain]. But I don't know what will happen in the future."

Capello has flatly refused to discuss the thorny issue of racism ahead of tonight's game and will only break his silence should trouble occur at a match which, following the prompting of FA officials, is being played away from Spain's traditional home at the Bernabeu Stadium.

But he is not expecting trouble and, after two spells as Real Madrid manager, has no difficulty in stressing his belief that Spain does not have a problem with racism.

Of more concern to Capello is his team selection. James Milner and Carlton Cole are two of the more interesting options available to the England coach. It is likely Cole will start only if Emile Heskey fails to overcome an ankle problem that prevented him from training on Monday but had eased sufficiently for the Aston Villa striker to be put through his paces at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium last night.

Frank Lampard has an obvious claim on a midfield spot but after their performances in Germany last November, so do Michael Carrick and Gareth Barry.

Capello said his priority would be to give less experienced squad members playing time and that he planned to make five substitutions.

"I prefer to test some of the players who have played only one or two games," he said. "Some play very well for their clubs but not with the same confidence in the national team.

"I want to see confidence and spirit in the team, the spirit of England. I want to play against all the teams in the world confident we can win and I want to see players without fear and with confidence."