Thursday Jan 31 2008 23:10
David Beckham has been left out of Fabio Capello's first England squad to play Switzerland in a friendly at Wembley on February 6.
The newly-installed Italian coach dropped Beckham from his Real Madrid side last season and has once again cast the midfielder aside despite Beckham needing just one international cap to reach his century.
Former boss Steve McClaren also dropped the 32-year-old before recalling the ex-England captain towards the end of the ill-fated Euro 2008 qualifying campaign last autumn.
Capello claims his decision was based on Beckham's lack of match fitness as it is currently the off-season for the midfielder's MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy.
However, Capello has suggested the international door remains open for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star.
Beckham has not played a competitive game since England's Euro qualifying defeat by Croatia in late November.
"The reason that David is not in the squad is because he has not had any real match practice since playing in November," said Capello.
"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."
Elsewhere, in a 30-man squad which will be whittled down to 23 on Saturday evening, there are few surprises.
As expected, Capello has handed call-ups to exciting Aston Villa duo Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Young had been named in several of McClaren's England squads and made his debut as a half-time substitute in a friendly against Austria in November.
Agbonlahor's call-up is his first to the full side and comes just months after he was dropped from Stuart Pearce's Under-21 squad for the European Championship after failing to attend a pre-tournament warm-up trip.
Meanwhile, on-loan Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies has been called up with captain John Terry ruled out through injury.
Matthew Upson from West ham United and new £7million Spurs signing Jonathan Woodgate have also both been included.
Full-backs Glen Johnson and Nicky Shorey have been included after impressive performances in recent weeks, but the likes of Newcastle's Alan Smith, Phil Neville of Everton and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon have been omitted.
There is also no place in the squad for troubled Tottenham goalkeeper and former England number one Paul Robinson.
Robinson has recently lost his place at club level following a turbulent past 12 months, while Capello has also decided against calling up West ham's Robert Green.
David James, Scott Carson and Chris Kirkland are the three goalkeepers named with the veteran Portsmouth custodian perhaps in line for another spell as the national number one.
"I have selected a squad of 30 players as I think it is important that all the players are equal from the beginning," added Capello.
"There are a lot of games before we join up and I think it is better that we are prepared for any injuries.
"This way we are not expecting to call players up as late replacements when I name a 23-man squad on Saturday evening."
Full squad: Carson (Aston Villa), James (Portsmouth), Kirkland (Wigan); Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), A Cole (Chelsea), C Davies (Aston Villa), Ferdinand (Manchester United) G Johnson (Portsmouth), King (Tottenham), Lescott (Everton), Richards (Manchester City), Shorey (Reading), Upson (West ham), Woodgate (Tottenham); Barry (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), Carrick (Manchester United), J Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Manchester United), Jenas (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Young (Aston Villa); Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Heskey (Wigan), Owen (Newcastle), Rooney (Manchester United).
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