Friday, June 29, 2012
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES
Few athletes did more to bring the Olympic Games to London this summer than David Beckham. But now the former English national team captain has been told he’s not invited to the party — at least not as a member of Britain’s soccer team.
Beckham, who had made no secret of his desire to captain the British team in its first Olympic soccer appearance in 52 years, was told by British Coach Stuart Pearce late Wednesday that he would not make the 18-man team.
“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,” the Galaxy midfielder said in a statement. “Naturally, I am very disappointed.”
Beckham trained with the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on Thursday but declined to speak with the media afterward.