David Beckham to miss World Cup

• Leonardo

  

  http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-beckhaminjured&prov=ap&type=lgns
  
  Big hit for England!
• Automatik

  

  England's midfield will be fine without him. Its just a shame he won't be there. A WC won't be the same without him. Him just being there helps out the PR for the WC.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  Yeah, England's midfield will probably improve without him in there because they won't feel the need to have to play him.
• 3reppom

  

  Where this really hurts England is on set pieces. He is still one of the best in the world in that department
• Laley23

  

  He wouldnt have even played. I mean, yes, but he wouldnt have been in the preferred starting XI.
  
  I do love watching him take set pieces though. It wasnt for sure he would even be selected for the WC by England, so it wasnt like he was a sure fire thing anyways.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  He would have been selected--and he would have played quite a bit. The guy isn't the same guy playing on that team as he is in the MLS. He's just a role player, but he does his role very well and when you surround him with talent he's effective. He plays great with the national team because he can just fill his role. And he's still one of the best in the world at doing the things that got him to the top in the first place.
• End of Line

  

  Big hit to England for sure.
• Laley23

  

  I think they will replace him with Ashley Cole of Aston Villa. I think it would be a good fit.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  Laley23 wrote: I think they will replace him with Ashley Cole of Aston Villa. I think it would be a good fit.

  I'm very jealous of that man for this sole reason...
  
  
• killdeer

  

  DeyDurkie5 wrote: Yeah, England's midfield will probably improve without him in there because they won't feel the need to have to play him.

  3reppom wrote: Where this really hurts England is on set pieces. He is still one of the best in the world in that department

  agree with both of these.
  as arguably the most well-known soccer player to the casual US fan, it is somewhat of an issue from a PR standpoint, but I think it impacts England little if you look at the quality of the side they field.
  As Soccer America Daily quite accurately said...at least it wasn't Rooney.
• september63

  

  Who Cares???
• DeyDurkie5

  

  september63 wrote: Who Cares???

  I'd say about 1-2 billion people!
• rock_knutne

  This is not a big hit to England, Capello never made a decision if Becks was in his plans. I would say this could be a hit in the locker room as far as leadership goes but not on the pitch.
• rock_knutne

  Laley23 wrote: I think they will replace him with Ashley Cole of Aston Villa. I think it would be a good fit.

  You mean Ashley Cole of Chelsea? He's a defender.
  
  Maybe you're thinking of Ashley Young from Aston Villa?
• Laley23

  

  rock_knutne wrote:

  Laley23 wrote: I think they will replace him with Ashley Cole of Aston Villa. I think it would be a good fit.

  You mean Ashley Cole of Chelsea? He's a defender.
  
  Maybe you're thinking of Ashley Young from Aston Villa?

  Yeah, I meant Young. Cole is already on the squad anyway, lol.
  
  It will be a good think for Young to get his chance anyway. Sets him up better for the future if he notches some WC experience under his belt.
• killdeer

  

  Theo Walcott? another possibility?
• rock_knutne

  Stewart Downing from Villa is also an option.
• 3reppom

  

  killdeer wrote: Theo Walcott? another possibility?

  Maybe, but he never quite seems to be fully on form.
• hoops23

  

  I'll echo some others'.. It's not a big hit to England in the big picture, but Beckham certainly could have helped them with set pieces. I'm not sure how much action he would have really saw.
  
  This isn't really big news for the US, because they'll still be heavy dogs against England.
• Automatik

  

  I think Walcott would be a wise choice, but you can't go wrong with Young either....hes more fit to play the RM spot.
  
  As for the "who cares?" comments....get a freakin' life. Myself and a lot of people I know actually care. I'm stoked for the WC!
• hoops23

  

  The WC is one of the single greatest sporting events period. Country vs country with the worlds best soccer players all competing for their respective nation.
• Laley23

  

  Just ignore the who cares things. We can have discussion with those sprinkled in perfectly fine. We know it is gonna happen from here till the WC is over. Might as well just not respond, itll make for a more enjoyable discussion during the WC.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  That and the fact a track runner is saying those comments lol
  
  
  I hope Ashley Young does really well, he has always been a favorite of mine on AV...dude seems like he floats across the field.
• Automatik

  

  I just read over the Top 50 players of the WC article from ESPN.com.
  
  Landy is #50! That has to be a pity vote.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  Automatik wrote: I just read over the Top 50 players of the WC article from ESPN.com.
  
  Landy is #50! That has to be a pity vote.

  without a doubt a pity vote haha