David Beckham Achieves 108th England Cap
England Lose to European Champions Spain 2-0 But Beckham Shines
England were well beaten 2-0 in Spain this Wednesday night, but despite the loss David Beckham had much to celebrate.
There is much to admire about Fabio Capello, England's Italian Football Manager. Not least the realisation that he is truly the "Boss" and comfortable with picking players on form and ability, rather than on reputation. The midfield four he started with: Wright-Phillips, Barry, Carrick and Downing were refreshing to see.
Capello neatly avoided the now tedious debate over Lampard and Gerrard's joint involvement (neither of whom have ever justified continuous inclusion), by leaving out Lampard at the outset (Gerrard was unavailable through injury). David Beckham occupied a seat on the bench, but those in the know fully expected the England talisman to make an appearance at some point.
Beckham's 108 England Appearances
Beckham's introduction came at the half-time interval, and he received a warm welcome in a foreign stadium in recognition of a magnificent achievement - matching the legendary Bobby Moore's record of 108 England appearances for an outfield player.
Bobby Moore remains an icon of the English game, some 42 years after becoming the only England Captain to lift the Jules Rimet Truphy, and 15 years after his untimely death at the age of 51. That Beckham can now stand shoulder to shoulder with the defensive maestro is a testament to the LA Galaxy player (He is currently on loan to AC Milan).
The game itself, a friendly international, went the way of many friendlies between nations looking to try new players, formations and tactical approaches - a competitive first-half, followed by wholesales player changes that caused the game to disintegrate into a training exercise.
Spain's Quality Football
The quality football was played in the first half, and most of it by Spain. Worthy European Champions last year, their strike combination of Villa and Torres prompted by Xavi and Alonso in midfield proved too quick and full of guile for John Terry and young Jagielka in Bobby Moore's position, and excepting a ten minute spell at the the start of the game, which England dominated, most of the game was played in England's half. It's a pin-sharp pass from Alonso in the 35th minute, slicing through the England defence and into the path of David Villa, that undoes the visitors. Villa scooped the ball out of is feet, shrugged off Jagielka and Terry's despairing challenges, and slid the ball past David James' right hand.
Half-time brought the changes, with Peter Crouch, Lampard, Matthew Upson and goalkeeper Robert Green coming on, but their introduction was little noticed in the fuss made of Beckham's arrival.
The great man looked fit and healthy, and made a couple of his trademark dead ball contributions as the game meandered on, disjointed in the face of all the personnel changes.
That is until the 83rd minute, when the excellent Xavi swung over a free kick, and England's defenders were flat-footed, allowing Lorente to head home from 6 yards.
West Ham United's Carlton Cole was introduced with 10 minutes to go, and had a late effort cleared off the line after an exquisite Beckham through ball, but by then the issue was decided.
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