Why Did Beckham Play Last Night?

Filed in archive US Soccer on August 23, 2007

Was there really any need for David Beckham and his still semi-injured ankle to cross the Atlantic this week and hobble up and down England's right flank against Germany? It's taken the guys ages to be ready to play at all and now he's risking the immediate future of both his MLS and England career. If he had done any further damage to that ankle then he'd have to sit out more MLS games, which could lead to him being at worst injured or more likely still not 100% for the BIG England games next month. The ones that actually count.

Wouldn't it have been better to let little Shaun Wright-Phillps have a proper go on the right wing, instead of the useless 20 minute left wing cameo he had to settle for. We know what a fit Beckham can do, so McClaren should be taking steps to make sure that's what we get.

My feeling is that Beckham playing was all about proving a point that he can play in MLS and for the national team, but it was a huge gamble for both Beckham and McClaren to take. We'll find out if there's been any adverse affect when Beckham plays (or doesn't) in his first Galaxy vs Chivas local derby tonight.