During his time at Manchester United, Beckham won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999. In 2003, he left Old Trafford for Real Madrid and many critics deemed him a loser after four barren seasons. Yet he emerged from his Spanish stint in 2007 with a major trophy – La Liga championship title, before leaving for Major League Soccer.

Recently, his international career picked up… for no apparent reason. All thanks to England coach Fabio Capello, Beckham has been steadily accumulating England caps, without any eye-catching performances. He was fielded as a late substitute in each of England’s World Cup qualifiers this year, playing a total of 28 minutes for his four caps.

The total tally for Golden Balls is 107 England caps and he will equal Bobby Moore’s all-time appearances by featuring against Germany next month. That would leave David Beckham 17 caps shy of Peter Shilton’s long-standing record of playing 125 times for his country between 1970 and 1999.

Shilton is clearly unhappy with the manner in which Beckham has closed in on his record. He said: “I didn’t think it was justifiable at all to bring him on with two minutes to go against Belarus. I couldn’t believe it. You had Shaun Wright-Phillips on the pitch as well and I couldn’t see what reason there could be.”

Certainly, any self-respecting footballer will prefer to earn his cap by making significant contributions to the team rather than to receive hand-outs from the coach. But to be fair, a goalkeeper enjoys longevity and can last the entire match because there is less physical demand on the body.

An outfield player will have to burst his lungs running up and down the pitch, fighting for possession, creating chances as well as enduring malicious tackles. In this respect, I will cut Beckham some slack and accept his role as a substitute, while breaking records along the way.

I am fine with cameo appearances so long as the team’s fortune is not compromised by the 33-year old midfielder whose pace is long gone and can only deliver spectacular free-kicks once in a blue moon. If Beckham can put in even more commitment and hard work than his peers, I keep faith with Capello’s decision that Beckham’s England days are far from over.

Coming back to Beckham’s club career, I am surprised that there is still light at the end of the tunnel. His insipid performances with La Galaxy over two seasons is a disgrace. For the amount of money he wringed from the club while it suffers from a double whammy of falling gate receipts and poor economic conditions in America, I believe not many fans will shed tears over the sacking of David Beckham.

Actually, if Beckham can’t survive in the Major League Soccer, the answer is obvious on his usefulness to clubs harboring title ambitions. Yet, AC Milan surprised all and sundry with their unsettling, if not scandalous, decision. The Italian club has confirmed that David Beckham will join them on a short-term loan deal during the MLS close season.

Golden Balls now has a chance to feature in both Serie A and UEFA Cup matches for an illustrious club and hopefully justify to his detractors, his continued presence in the England team. The LA Times seems to be none too sad about this development when it reported last week that “the Beckham circus could fold its tents and the club could go back to being what it once was competitive in MLS”.

This statement is fair except for the term “competitive” which is at odds with the entire setup at LA Galaxy. In the past four years, Galaxy have accumulated 41 wins, 55 defeats and 27 draws in the regular season. Only Real Salt Lake, a new MLS franchise, has fared worse.

Currently, LA Galaxy lie second from bottom of the Western Standings, with no chance of reaching the playoffs. This is a repeat scenario of Beckham’s first season in California. Galaxy’s record of eight wins, 13 defeats and eight draws represents a failed experiment in creating a “sexy championship team” with David Beckham on the roster.

David Beckham’s contributions to LA Galaxy stands at a paltry five goals and 11 assists. These are hardly the sort of statistics that will interest AC Milan, a seven-time European champion. Yet, the Rossoneri were clearly rubbing their hands in glee, probably in anticipation of more fans and merchandise sales.

Despite Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti’s declaration that the Rossonneri would like to make the proposed move permanent, the Galaxy captain insisted that he will be back in California for the start of the 2009 MLS season. He said: “I will be back. My commitment is to the Galaxy and that has not changed.”

“It’s a two-month spell, maybe a little longer. Milan have got a great team, so I’m not expecting to go straight in the starting line-up. I will have to earn the right to get into that team. I’m in Serie A form. It’s about getting my fitness up.

“I came to the Galaxy to actually win trophies so I want to do that. I’m also very committed to my role as the MLS ambassador as well. It’s been slightly disappointing because we haven’t made the playoffs again.”

Does AC Milan really need the 33-year-old England midfielder for footballing purposes? The squad is already overflowing with exceptional talents which include FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka, along with fellow Brazilian internationals Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato.

Experience is rich with veterans Clarence Seedorf and former sharpshooter, Andriy Shevchenko returning to his favorite hunting ground after a miserable time at Chelsea. And not to forget, an array of Italian World Cup winners: Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Gianlucca Zambrotta, Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.

In such a competitive club, it is difficult to imagine Beckham breaking into the first XI on a regular basis. Former Gunners, Mathieu Flamini, has only played four matches (3 domestic and I European), so it is a wonder if Beckham can even make it onto the bench, especially when he is already old, has never tasted Italian soccer and defense never been his forte.

Traditionally, big name players who were over the hill struggled to carve a name for themselves when they arrived at AC Milan. Ronaldo was overweight and out-of-form when he arrived at the San Siro from Real Madrid in Jan. 2007. The Brazilian scored a few goals but never regained his lethal form.

His ruptured ligaments ruled him out for nine months and AC Milan privately confirmed that Ronaldo would never play for them again even if he made a full recovery. Ex-Italy forward Roberto Baggio was among other top players who failed to hit their earlier heights after signing for Milan.

Financially though, it could be a mutually beneficial arrangement for both club and player. Initial reports reveal that AC Milan will only take Beckham on a ‘free’ loan, meaning that the Italians would not fork out money to LA Galaxy and would just pay part or none of his wages.

Milan are cash tight at the moment following the purchase of Ronaldinho from Barcelona, so they will be glad to take Beckham for pennies on the dollar. Beckham, as one of the world’s most famous sportsmen, is a marketing machine which singlehandedly propelled Real Madrid to the richest club in the world with lucrative sales of replica shirts and other revenue generating opportunities.

Consider the mania which greeted the club the day after Ronaldinho joined in July. Milan fans snapped up over a quarter of all the season tickets sold up to that point and hits on the website were 10 times the average.

As for David Beckham, the fashion-conscious superstar is already well-known in Italy and models underwear for famous Italian designer Giorgio Armani. Billboards of his half-naked body already span the country, so his effect on Milan fans will be nothing short of spectacular.

However, one has to be careful of Beckham’s waning appeal amid the current economic crisis. Last season, Beckham drew a crowd of 66,237 to Giants Stadium in New Jersey to watch him play the New York Red Bulls but this season the attendance was 46,754.

FC Dallas had a crowd of 22,331 when David Beckham came to Pizza Hut Park in May, up from 14,600 when Galaxy played there without him last June. But the attendances fell to 8,960 and 8,541 for each of Dallas’s next two home games, signs that Beckham’s impact is only ephemeral.

Galaxy’s owners, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has not committed to the deal but coach Arena has already highlighted his displeasure: “I don’t see where that benefits MLS or the Galaxy. Given the position the Galaxy is in, it would seem very odd to me if we were loaning out our top players at the start of the season. ”

Despite a sticky start, AC Milan are getting into the groove and looking like Serie A title contenders. The Beckham circus could unfortunately disrupt the balance and upset a few key players. Maldini was reportedly happy with the signing though.

On his team’s good run of form, Ancelotti attributed it to his defense, saying: “Favalli, Bonera, Maldini, as well as all the others, have improved individually as well as in a team sense. But the credit also goes to the strikers, who are able to move well on the pitch without ever leaving too much space behind.”

Ancelotti said of Beckham: “I wouldn’t just loan him, I’d buy him. He’s still a valid player who can be useful to us, and we can be useful to him. He will not be a tourist.”

But he remained ambivalent about Beckham’s role in the team. “If Beckham wanted to train with us, it wouldn’t be a problem for me.” No mention of Beckham featuring for the team.

It will be interesting to see if Ancelotti can find a slot for Beckham and bring out of the best in him. The intense competition with Ronaldinho and Kaka will spur Beckham to outperform himself, which will ultimately work to the benefit of England… that is, if it works out at all.

Amid this depression, nobody paid much attention to to Fabio Capello’s friendly match against United States at Wembley. For the record, England won 2-0. John Terry had been given a new lease of life when Capello appointed him as captain and the “crybaby,” (as mocked by some quarters), showed that he fully deserved the pacifier by scoring the opener. It will take more than a win over USA before Terry recovers from his Champions League misery but it was the right response for me.

A few days ago, I was rather touched to see an open letter published on Chelsea official site where Terry expressed his regret over the embarrassing penalty miss. His image as a pompous and ill-disciplined character has stuck in our minds but I am sure the fans were more than willing to forgive him after he accepted full responsibility and declared his deep loyalty to the club. To a large extent, a spitting incident on Carlos Tevez was mitigated.

For this match, I must say that those who did not watch the proceedings were lucky. The scoreline may suggest a comfortable victory, which is true given the ample possession and the none too adventurous nature of the Americans, but in terms of entertainment value, this could well have been the handiwork of Steve McClaren. Fact is, old habits die hard, loping the ball into the air after stringing a couple of passes seems to be written into the DNA of this team.

The forgettable performance could be due to fatigue as those involved in the Champions League finals were struggling to stamp their class and maintain a high tempo. The sharpness (or lack of) in front of goal could prove decisive against stronger opponents.

David Beckham continued his pursuit of records after attaining his centenary against France. Having scored a spectacular 70-yard injury-time shot in the LA Galaxy’s 3-1 win over the Kansas City Wizards last Saturday, he was sharp and fit enough to warrant a starting place.

Indeed, Beckham did not disappoint with an energetic display. He was first to create a goal threat with a free-kick that whistled past the post, and he crafted another scoring opportunity for Gerrard from a clever set-piece, but the latter’s shot was blocked by Clint Dempsey.

The thing about Beckham, regardless of whatever misgivings one may have, is that once he put his mind to something, he is able to prove his sternest critics wrong. Even Fabio Capello, with little love lost at the start of Real Madrid’s campaign, owed Beckham a debt of gratitude for a late rally to the La Liga title. However, Beckham is not known for consistency and his form is likely to fizzle out. Capello will be judging whether he can inspire LA Galaxy to the title or at least emerge from an entire Major League Soccer season unscathed.

After the break, Blackburn winger David Bentley replaced Beckham and while he expressed lofty ambitions to displace Golden Balls, I believe he is a long way off from world-class quality. Many aspects of his game, especially distribution of the ball and keeping possession can be improved.

The success Bentley craves has to come from hours of practice, just ask Cristiano Ronaldo whose 42 goals in this season was no coincidence, being the result of relentless training to perfect his skills and a deep desire to be the best in the world.

There was much intrigue in the telepathic understanding between Gareth Barry and Steven Gerrard. Capello exhibited great faith in Barry, having selected him for all his three matches in charge. This time round, Owen Hargreaves, playing the entire 90 minutes, was favored in the holding midfielder role after recovering from tendinitis. Barry came on for Frank Lampard in the 57th minute and within minutes, he struck a confident pass that sent Gerrard through for England’s second goal.

Clearly, the pair complement each other and Liverpool should do their utmost to secure the services of Barry, if they desire the Premier League title. An expensive signing which can fit and contribute to the team immediately as in the case of Fernando Torres is better than buying several unknown talents.

The seamless partnership between Gerrard and Barry forces the awkward issue of accommodating Frank Lampard. This conundrum will be non-existent if Lampard has not been so indispensable for Chelsea with his crucial goals and assists driving the team when the chips are down but yet, he is a misfit for England.

Frank Lampard’s contribution to the front line in terms of defense-splitting passes is poor, he cannot dribble and neither is he good at tracking back to defend. He will have been a mere shadow if not for the fact he balloons half-chances instead of feeding the ball to a better positioned striker.

Fabio Capello can continue to fit a square peg into a round hole by changing formations or fielding other players out of position as what previous coaches had done. However, I would prefer him to explore other possibilities in midfield and there are many.

As for the rearguard comprising Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Ashley Cole, it looks sturdy but we do not expect defensive frailties to be exposed by a team of USA caliber in the first place. Competition for the captain’s armband is keen – Terry’s goal and overall performance provides Capello with a pleasant headache on this issue. Ferdinand was in ascendancy but now a spanner has been thrown into the works.

So far, Fabio Capello has used three skippers – Terry, Ferdinand and Gerrard. Barry and Rooney are also worthy of being groomed in such a capacity but right now, they are behind the pecking order. Capello is shrewd in keeping his choice for the permanent captain close too his heart. In this way, everybody is kept on their toes and nobody can question the final choice given that it is based on merit after watching what each candidate can do while wearing the armband.

With the defense more or less settled, the strikeforce is still anybody’s guess. It has yet to take shape even if Capello has tried, and hopefully, not exhausted different options. There is no doubt Wayne Rooney is the first choice; he has a great attitude in training, holds the ball up well and can link up play with intelligent passes. In short, he functions as an excellent conduit when penetrating enemy’s territories. Despite a short fuse on the pitch and not scoring enough goals, no coach in his right mind will leave Rooney out of his plan.

The problem is to find him a partner, someone in the mold of Carlos Tevez will be a godsend. The last time, Gerrard was pushed upfront as a second striker but the result was not really desired in that Rooney ended up supporting Gerrard (and he sure fluffed a lot of chances) instead of the other way round.

If Tevez’s close control of the ball, energy and persistence cannot be found, at least there are youngsters with his pace, such as Theo Walcott and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Unfortunately, Capello takes references from stellar club performances, thus he is unlikely to utilize them in the World Cup until they get a solid run in their individual clubs.

Peter Crouch is a viable option but he cannot command a regular spot at Anfield and is even on his way out. Under such circumstances, I will hesitate to choose Crouch until he proves his worth. Instead of wasting time on the bench, Crouch should consider a transfer, even to a lesser club who can promise him a regular berth as the main striker. Certainly, Capello will not be willing to gamble on Defoe if he had remained at Tottenham where he is condemned by Ramos.

Dean Ashton, under the guidance of Harry Redknapp at West Ham, is blossoming into an excellent striker. His aerial prowess, strength and great eye for goal are attractive qualities. However, he is injury prone and lacks acceleration. Ashton may get a chance on Sunday as Defoe has already been given a chance to showcase his abilities. Too bad, he didn’t really turn up to be counted.

The Portsmouth forward had not the presence of mind to finish off several opportunities, especially a glint-edged chance started by a neat move involving Gerrard and Rooney but he sidefooted past the post in front of goal. Hopefully, Defoe has not killed his chance of featuring in future England matches with this performance. Michael Owen, who rediscovered his confidence and scoring touch at Newcastle, is once again back in contention as the firm favorite.

The USA team mustered little in attack and pressure, thus it is a pity that England cannot rack up more goals to account for their superior possession. The team is still a work in progress, while Capello has resources at his disposal, merging them into a compact and incisive team takes time. The front line enigma must be solved before the World Cup qualifiers but he can afford to experiment further on Sunday, especially since several players who appeared in the Champions League final may not travel for that encounter.

Victory means nothing in friendlies, but it is not a holiday camp or a mass gathering either. Capello has to gain a better understanding of his formation and his players as well as get his message across to them during this short period of bonding. He will now round off Sunday’s friendly against Trinidad and Tobago and the clash with the Czech Republic at Wembley in August, before the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign against Andorra.

The test starts in earnest for Capello with the game against Croatia in Zagreb on September 10. At the rate the team is forming up, Capello is still on track to deliver the FA’s targets but his remarks on wanting to be the most successful England coach ever seems a bit far-fetched.

David Beckham, if a little rusty, was eager to impress but it was not a memorable centenary. Yes, his right foot is still able to deliver 50-yard Hollywood passes across the field and he had a great opportunity to add to his tally of 18 international goals. However, over zealousness got the better of him when he was booked for shirt-pulling on Malouda, an unnecessary foul which exposed his lack of pace and defending ineptness.

I doubt if we will be seeing the last of Beckham. He expressed his desire to get more than 100 caps, saying: “Just to get the cap was what I wanted, to start was a bonus. I am very stubborn and things can change but I want to carry on playing for my country for many years. I proved my fitness and felt sharp and fresh.”

From the first whistle, France spelled their intent clearly. Nicolas Anelka tested David James in the 10th minute with a firm header from Frank Ribery’s freekick. Minutes later, Malouda cut inside Wes Brown, supplied a pass to Anelka who shot weakly on the turn, and James was visibly relieved.

England responded with their own brand of attack. Beckham slided in at the far post to meet Ashley Cole’s low cross but was inches away. Gerrard found some space on the edge of the box after Rooney threaded in a pass, unfortunately, he went for the rugby equivalent of a kick when a return pass to Rooney will be a better decision.

Gerrard fluffed another chance by heading Wes Brown’s cross over the bar before France pulled ahead. Right-back Francois timed his pass perfectly into the space between England’s centrebacks. Anelka, who was lurking, latched on to the ball and was through on goal, the only way James could stop his advance was a late dive to sweep the striker’s legs from under him.

James was spared a red card which is apt since it was only a friendly. A penalty was awarded which Ribery coolly dispatched as James dived in the opposite direction. After the break, Fabio Capello made four substitutions which saw England switch to a conventional 4-4-2 formation spearheaded by Peter Crouch and Michael Owen.

However, the changes were ineffective and France strengthened their dominance instead. Ribéry set Anelka on the loose and he turned, with the England captain, Rio Ferdinand in tow, before shooting high. Malouda should have added his name to the score sheet when his left-foot drive grazed the foot of the post with James well beaten.

Ribery nearly doubled his personal tally with quarter of an hour left but dragged his shot wide after a great assist from Anelka on the edge of the area. In the last minute, substitute Djibril Cisse fired into the side netting to cap a frustrating night for Les Blues. But with England failing to create a single clear chance in the second half, any additional cushion was unnecessary.

In terms of performance, a tame England had little to cheer as France were firmly in control. The ease of their 1-0 win was a stark reminder to the immense tasks faced by Fabio Capello in elevating his charges to a world-class standard. Capello said: “I am actually quite happy and have seen some improvements. We have played against a top level country and I think we did well. The way we played and the fact we didn’t let them play much was impressive.”

The improvements, if any, are barely visible and not good enough. While Ribery’s first-half penalty separated both sides, it was Nicolas Anelka who provided the sparks for France. The crowd chanted “Ole” whenever he touched the ball and teased England with a series of neat dragbacks and stepovers. A welcome change as he was the subject of jeers instead of cheers not so long ago.

It has come full circle for Le Sulk. Nine years after tormenting England’s defense with both goals in France 2-0 win at Wembley, he shone brilliantly again. Anelka is quick, can make deep runs, hold the ball up well and most importantly, is an intelligent footballer.

I believe he is a sure candidate to be included in France’s Euro 08 campaign since Thierry Henry is experiencing a slump in form. Henry is not assured of a starting spot for Barcelona and an extended spell in the treatment room has blunted his abilities.

France coach Raymond Domenech declared himself satisfied with the build-up to Euro 2008. Though the second half saw France losing the ball and making stray passes, England were never in a position to take advantage. If they had put more effort into finishing off the chances, this could be an embarrassing night for Capello.

Defense wise, there are lots of holes for Capello to plug. The rearguard was constantly a step slower in the face of a rampaging Anelka and the biggest culprit was the ever-reliable John Terry who sprung a faulty offside trap which only embarrassed himself. Anelka easily eluded Terry and James had little choice but to commit the foul.

For the front line, I will not throw out the strategy of employing Steven Gerrard in an advanced position (close to Wayne Rooney) yet, even though this match showed that it was not effective in terms of penetration.

It requires some fine-tuning and Rooney has to be the person who ultimately takes the shots while Gerrard’s role should be more of a facilitator, working out the through passes and one-twos, instead of shooting on sight. It was a good test though as Claude Makelele, a man adept in the holding role, gave Capello an inking of what has to be done in this aspect.

David Bentley is an able candidate on the right, if Beckham decides to hang up his boots or if Capello decides to impose his exile. The fact that Capello fielded David James, Wes Brown and Stewart Downing showed that he is not immune to the same problem faced by Sven-Goran Eriksson: a depressing shortage of talents, especially in defense.

For those who grumble about Capello’s mistakes, look at it this way, a friendly serves the purpose of experimenting and a victory is hollow if nothing can be gleaned or the opponent is not in the mood to put up a good fight.

I will rather Fabio Capello lose all his friendlies while adjusting his strategies all the time and finally put up a strong team for the World Cup qualifiers. I am sure he will be reviewing the video of this match repeatedly and exploring options. So be patient, embarking on a sling campaign will only demoralize the entire team.

Golden Balls, as he is affectionately known, is a marketing phenomenon, even today. After leaving glamorous clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid, becoming more injury prone with age at LA Galaxy, losing his England captaincy and a regular England spot; it is a surprise that his charisma is not blunted. New Zealand, a rugby nation, became the latest “victim” to be caught in Beckham-mania, after Australia.

On Tuesday, David Beckham and the Galaxy stopped by Australia and attracted 80,000 spectators to a match against Sydney FC. The England midfielder played all 90 minutes at the Olympic stadium, scoring a trademark goal from a free kick, an uplifting moment in an otherwise forgettable 5-3 loss by the Galaxy.

David Beckham and his entourage continued on their whirlwind excursion by touching down in New Zealand on Friday ahead of the hotly anticipated exhibition match between LA Galaxy and Wellington Phoenix. The star player was given a powhiri, gave a press conference and headed straight for a training session.

This was no ordinary practice session, not after several unofficial records were broken. Golden Balls managed to pull in the crowds to fill half the stadium – more than 15,000 fans gathered in the 35,000-seat Westpac Stadium.

Most were school children who screamed, cheered and performed Mexican waves every time Beckham waved or smiled at them. The climax was when the midfielder spoke briefly and appeared on the stadium’s video screen. All in all, a special day to remember for the impressionable kids as they get up close with their idol.

Saturday’s exhibition match will be held at the same stadium which is also the home ground of the All Blacks rugby team and only a stone’s throw from the New Zealand Rugby Union national headquarters. During buildups to major matches, the All Blacks might draw a few thousand fans in training sessions, but to attract 15,000 to a soccer practice, in a country which soccer is hardly played, was unprecedented.

Rugby officials must have stood bewildered as their sport, with a rich heritage and popularity, is eclipsed by one man. They certainly got a taste of Beckham’s spectacular drawing power which made him one of Britain’s most iconic athletes and also an elite global advertising brand.

A sell-out crowd is expected, a feat mustered only by the All Blacks and an annual rugby sevens tournament. David Beckham is aware his first visit to New Zealand is encroaching on rugby’s territory and giving soccer a profile in the country it hasn’t previously enjoyed.

“Notoriously, (New Zealand) is big on rugby but I hope that we can change that, just for one day and hopefully going forward because I’ve seen the potential football or soccer has in America,” Beckham said at a media conference.

If anybody can talk about increasing the awareness of football in this region based on a singular effort, I have to say Beckham is the man. Though I have little regard for his limited skills on the field, he has done a lot of good for the sport by showing up and doing some PR work. Kids want to emulate him which will encourage the sport to be played at the grassroot level, allowing its influence to promulgate and take root in the far reaches of countries where football has never gained a foothold.

A contract between the Phoenix and Galaxy stipulates he will play at least 55 minutes on Saturday but Beckham is hopeful of lasting the entire match, especially when he personally brought on a new chapter in New Zealand’s soccer history. The expected attendance will be the highest ever for a soccer match in the country, eclipsing the 1982 record of 32,000 for a World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in Auckland.

The entire circus (Beckham and his Galaxy teammates) is scheduled to leave New Zealand for the United States on Sunday. With his star power intact, Beckham can definitely look forward to more lucrative sponsorship deals coming up in the new season.

The directors at Galaxy should be pleased too. They are laughing all the way to the bank after the success of this tour, presumably they have sped up production of T-shirts in anticipation of frenzied sales.

From Galaxy’s past league performances, it is clear that much has to be done to achieve success, assembling a one-legged genius and a sexy coach will not turn the tide overnight. But meantime, it is business.