VOTE: Did Beckham deserve to be awarded his 100th cap?

8:47am Thursday 27th March 2008

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YES, says Liam Chronnell

DAVID Beckham should have earned his 100th cap last night for one simple reason - because he is one of the best 23 players in the country.

Quite apart from one of England's most celebrated players fully deserving to reach his incredible milestone for his past glories, of which there have been many, the former captain still merits his selection.

Yes he is short of match fitness, yes he plays for a third-rate league in a country that does not care about football, and yes he probably no longer warrants a place in Fabio Capello's starting 11.

But that still does not detract from the qualities the LA Galaxy star possesses.

Beckham is still the best crosser of a football in the world game and, therefore, has a role to play in the national side.

In England's last competitive match, the highly embarrassing 3-2 European Championship defeat against Croatia, he was almost the saviour.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player provided a trademark pin-point delivery to allow Peter Crouch to equalise late on before Mladen Petric grabbed a Wembley winner - costing Steve McClaren his job.

How ironic would it have been if Beckham's contribution on that November night had proved decisive, as the man who is responsible for the will he/won't he reach 100 caps' debate would still be the national boss.

It was McClaren, after all, who made Beckham the scapegoat when he took charge after the World Cup 2006.

Capello also knows the media circus that surrounds the most showbiz player of all time reaching his personal milestone would continue unabated until he received the elusive cap.

Far better to get it out of the way now, and allow England to move forward without being persistently dogged by it hanging over him every time.

Not for one minute do I suspect Capello, a man not swayed by public goodwill, would pick Beckham for any other reason than his football ability - and rightly so.

But, in a game which lost its soul a long time a go, there is still room for a little sentiment.

And that should be celebrated not criticised.

NO, says Neil Bonnar

FROM now on it shall forever be known as the worthless 100th cap.

The difference between previous England centurions and David Beckham is that his predecessors deserved it.

In Beckham's case it is nothing more than a sop. How many games did he play last season? About six in a league as good as the Conference.

He was heavy-legged and half-paced when he came on as sub for his 99th cap four months ago, since when he's sat on his backside while the real England players have been playing hard in one of the most demanding leagues in the world.

The only criteria that should decide if you win an England cap - any cap - is whether you are better than the other players vying for the position.

And Beckham's not in the same league as David Bentley or Aaron Lennon - literally or metaphorically.

He was always out of his depth against any decent international side. And that was when he young, fit and firing on all cylinders.

The people have spoken and Fabio Capello is pandering to them.

They want Beckham to get his 100th cap because they like him. If that was a valid criteria for selection we'd have Gazza, Lineker and Jimmy Greaves back in the team.

Beckham isn't quite as past-it as them, but he's not far off and that'll be proven when he doesn't play any further part in Capello's plans in the build-up to the next World Cup.

The day Beckham opted for the easy dollar was the day the curtain should have dropped on his England career.

Image was always king with Beckham as was proven by his regular failures at World Cups and European Championships.

His good looks and glitzy lifestyle always papered over the cracks of his one-dimensional game which was built on being able to deliver a great ball into the box.

Little was ever made of his inability to run past players, tackle, head, dribble and kick very well with his left foot.

Capello clearly just wants to get the Beckham 100-cap issue out of the way, which is unfair on the players who deserve it.