Image source: Wikimedia Commons

 

BY HANK KOEBLER

 

Even superstars like David Beckham have a bad day sometimes. CBC News has the details.

“David Beckham, the former English captain, got bad news today. He will not be taking part in the London Olympics as part of the Great Britain team. He was left off the roster today.”

Beckham, who helped lobby Olympics officials to choose London as the host city, expressed his feelings in a statement. ITV has it.
 
“Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me, so I would have been honored to have been part of this unique Team GB squad. Naturally I am very disappointed"

Can leaving Beckham at home help Britain win that gold? The team was only allowed to select three players over the age of 23, and a writer for The Guardian says 38-year-old Ryan Giggs was a better choice than Beckham.

“Although Beckham now suffers from a chronic lack of pace and mobility...there was arguably a case for naming him in the squad on exceptional dead-ball ability alone. Giggs, though, is currently a bit more versatile.”

For the 37-year-old Beckham, the Olympic snub likely means he has missed his last chance to represent his country on the soccer pitch.  A BBC blogger says Beckham’s illustrious career will fade slowly outside the Olympic spotlight.

“While he will be as diplomatic and decent as ever about this turn of events, inside there will be sadness at missing out on those weeks when London will be at the centre of the sporting world.”
 

Beckham’s surely disappointed now, but could a greater honor be in store for him? A writer for the Evening-Standard says the midfielder deserves to be knighted in the future for his role in bringing the Olympics to his homeland.

“Whatever you think of his footballing talent — now or at any time — Beckham has done more work than most in the service of his sport and his country... You may laugh now but I have a sneaky feeling that some time in the next decade, Sir David will arise, in part thanks to his service to the Games.”

Olympic soccer preliminaries will begin July 27th.