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Beckham's Painful American Sojourn Is All But Over |
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Written by Vanessa Bale
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Sunday, 02 September 2007 |
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When David Beckham signed for the LA Galaxy early this year, he was hailed as the messiah who would resurrect soccer in America. Analysts said his love for the attention and the moolah led him to reject a move back to the English Premiership and choose "greener" pastures instead. Three months into his American sojourn, David Beckham must be doubting the very basis of his move from Real Madrid to the United States.
And so are thousands of American fans who paid top dollar to watch him feature in the Galaxy. Sadly Beckham has featured in just a handful of Major League Soccer games. Even though the MLS was restructured to suit his schedule, Beckham has appeared in just a couple of games and has scored one goal.
Admittedly the goal was spectacular; one of his trademark free kicks, but fans and indeed the Galaxy had not paid though their teeth to just watch one goal. Beckham himself will admit that his trip has been less than a success.
He arrived at the Galaxy for $39.5 million in a five-year deal. It will be a miracle if he manages to serve out that deal. An ankle injury picked up during England’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia in June, followed by this week's knee injury have all but ensured that Beckham's first MLS season is a miserable failure.
This injury will keep him out of the game for six weeks, by which time the MLS season will almost be over.
Was he a victim of hectic scheduling?
No, says England manager Steve McClaren who was forced to eat humble pie and recall the 32-year-old to his side in a faltering Euro 2008 campaign. "Injuries happen to footballers. It was a difficult schedule but it was something that he thought he could handle," he said. "I do not feel I was asking for trouble in recalling him because his performances warranted him staying in the squad."
Others though are not so sure. Galaxy coach Frank Yallop, whose job is under threat, feels Beckham should not be playing. Yallop ha struggled to cope with the hysteria surrounding Beckham's arrival and the Galaxy have also suffered.
Their one realistic chance of winning any silverware this season was the SuperLiga. However Beckham's injury overshadowed that game as well. LA Galaxy lost to Mexico's Pachuca 4-3. Beckham has also been suffering from fatigue as he traversed across the Atlantic to be present for England's friendly against Germany.
The former England captain himself admitted that the injuries meant he must rest and should not return until he recovered fully.
But the worst part of his injury crisis is that he will be unable to play for England in the upcoming qualifiers against Israel and Russia. .The news would come as a blow to Steve McClaren as he struggles to find fit players for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers next week.
England plays Israel on September 8 and four days later welcomes Russia at the Wembley. A loss in any of the matches could make England's qualification to the Euro 2008 finals an uphill task and could herald an end to McClaren's short career as the England manager. Beckham has said he is committed to both England and the Galaxy, but the time may have come for him to choose one over the other and that decision might turn out to be as painful as his knee.
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