Former captain David Beckham was left out of Fabio Capello's first England squad today for next week's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.
The LA Galaxy midfielder, who was hoping to win his 100th cap,
has not played a competitive match since England's 3-2 defeat by
Croatia in a Euro 2008 qualifier last November but had been
training with Arsenal in a bid to maintain his fitness.
There were call ups for two uncapped players, Aston Villa
striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and defender Curtis Davies who is on
loan at Villa from West Bromwich Albion.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who lost his place for England's
3-2 defeat by Croatia in November and has since been dropped by his
club Tottenham Hotspur, failed to make the squad.
Capello said Beckham's exclusion did not mean the end of the
former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder's international
career.
"I know there has been a lot of discussion about David
Beckham," Capello said on the FA's website (
www.thefa.com).
"The reason that David is not in the squad is because he has
not had any real match practice since playing in November. When I
spoke with David on the phone yesterday I advised him that he is
still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America
we will look closely at him again."
England Squad v Switzerland:
Goalkeepers:David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Liverpool on loan at Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic)
Defenders:Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (West Brom on loan at Aston Villa), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders:Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Forwards:Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)
