While the disappointment of England’s failure to land the 2018 FIFA World Cup will take some time to disappear and questions will be asked of where it all went wrong, one man did himself no harm and that is the legend that is David Beckham.

As a 24 year old male I’m not afraid to admit that I love David Beckham. The man has provided some great football moments during my lifetime and has continued to act with great dignity of the pitch. While he has had his controversial moments Beckham to this day continues to be a great ambassador for the English game.

A player who without doubt put his all into every single international appearance he made is still clearly so passionate for our country and football and despite being mocked by the press in the past over his intelligence he proved many people wrong with a great speech in the final presentation. Even if you are not a fan of David Beckham there is no denying how much effort he put into trying to bring the World Cup to England. After playing in three World Cups for England as a player it would have been a great moment for Beckham to help bring the beautiful game home to us all in 2018. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be.

I hope the knighthood he deserves isn’t too far away and I don’t think many people can deny he has been a great servant to football and represented England around the world very well.

English footballer Emile Heskey did the noble thing this week by announcing his retirement from international football. Despite lots of criticism, Heskey was a stalwart for England, making 62 appearances for his country between 1999 and 2010 and contributing a large number of assists and seven goals. He’ll be remembered as a man who always gave his most for his country and has nothing to be ashamed of.

For England to turn a new leaf and begin building a squad that will mark a new generation of English international footballers, it’s imperative – in my opinion – for some of the current England team to also retire. This will then allow new players to come up through the ranks and gain necessary playing time at the highest level.

I’ve often said that the England u-21 side has, for a long time, played much better than the full international squad. The u-21 team has shown much more pace, better technical ability and, most importantly of all, play better as a team than the group of individuals that the England national team play like.

So to give players a chance to compete at the national level, footballers such as Jack Rodwell, Lee Cattermole, Jack Wilshere, Chris Smalling, Andy Carroll, Daniel Sturridge and others, here are my recommendations of which current England national team players should consider retirement:

None of the above players should be ashamed if they retired from international football at this stage in their career. Each has performed well for his country, but it’s time for them to move on. It’s time for a new breed of England national team players to come through the system. It’s time for a transitional period in the England national team structure. It’s time for new blood.

Do you agree or disagree with the above choices? Are there other current England national team players not listed above that you feel should retire? Click the comments link below and share your opinion.

First there was Brand Beckham going to Hollywood. Now we have King Henry coming to the Big Apple.

While MLS is getting that knack as a semi-retirement league for the world’s greatest stars (Frank Lampard has mentioned it as well), Henry’s signing is still a major deal for the young league.

Put simply, on footballing credentials alone, this is the best signing in MLS history. At the peak of his powers in the early 2000s, Thierry Henry was the best forward in the world. He was the most feared striker in England by a healthy margin. Twice runner-up FIFA World Player of the Year to countryman Zinedine Zidane (2003) and Ronaldinho (2004), Henry was voted player of the year in England twice by the PFA and three times by the Football Writers’ Association.

He was on the French national team that won the World Cup in 1998, and played a pivotal role in their Euro 2000 championship and 2006 World Cup final appearance. With Arsenal, he won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, and was the centerpiece for the unprecedented 2003-04 title-winning Arsenal side that went undefeated in their domestic campaign. After moving to Barcelona in 2007, Henry claimed the treble in 2009, often utilized as a left-winger/forward alongside Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi.

But it is more than just the accolades that define Henry. He is arguably the most electrifying player to grace the Premier League. His technique, movement, acceleration, speed, strength, and goal-scoring abilities were second to none in England.

Starting out as a left-sided midfielder, Arsene Wenger converted the Frenchman to the center-forward, but Henry always drifted out wide left to collect the ball, and then proceeded to torch fullbacks and central defenders regularly. A 360 spin here, blinding pace there, Henry was a pleasure to watch every weekend. One wonders, if Abramovich and Mourinho hadn’t arrived in England, how many more titles could Henry have won with the Gunners?

At 32 and turning 33 in August, does Henry have much left in the tank? He should light this league on fire and be THE outstanding player. He has endured a rocky couple of years with both Barcelona, where he fell out of favor and was a regular on the bench last season, and France, after his infamous “Hand of Gaul” debacle and finding himself on the bench for the national team in their laughable World Cup campaign.

Still, there is no one remotely in the class of Thierry Henry in MLS when it comes to talent and skill, including Beckham. The dream scenario for MLS is a New York – Los Angeles final with Henry and Becks both fit. The two teams are both at or near the top of their respective conferences, so that dream final looks to be on once both superstars return to action.

These signings are critical for MLS’ growth, despite the negative “retirement” moniker they may receive from critics. Why? Take me for example. I went to see Beckham play here in New York (actually New Jersey), and now I will 100% be attending a Red Bulls game to see Henry play. These stars galvanize interest for nascent American soccer fans, MLS fans, and hardcore soccer fans like myself who largely ignore MLS and follow the European leagues. All in all, Henry’s signing is a big positive for the league.

Now, let’s watch a master of his craft in action. Sit back and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgPH6NGbnwk&feature=related

What are your thoughts on Henry’s move to America? Good for MLS, bad for MLS? Good for Henry, bad for Henry?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

In the ‘oh, you don’t say’ moment of the weeks following the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, former England captain David Beckham, in a Yahoo! webchat on Wednesday, has openly admitted that the players in the England squad need to take full responsibility for England’s poor performance.

“Capello did everything that he could have done” (suck up). “We didn’t perform” (“We”? You didn’t play mate). “The manager can do so much and then it’s down to the players” (oh really!? Tell us something we don’t know, like why Capello elected to stick with a 4-4-2 that wasn’t working, like why Capello let goal scorer Peter Crouch see so few minutes, or why Rooney was even playing looking so unfit).

Clad in sleeves of tattoos and a snazzy three piece suit furnished by the FA, Beckham somehow made it on England’s back room staff, a job that surely was some favor (or PR stunt concerning England’s 2018 bid) owed from his and England boss Fabio Capello’s Real Madrid days.

Seriously, what was Beckham’s purpose with the England squad in South Africa? Look good in a suit so TV cameras can send your face to your millions of adoring fans?

Time after time throughout the tournament, Beckham was seen on the sidelines with pursed lips and glaring eyes. A facade of an England player as looks of dismay and contemplation were captured by a camera miraculously shooting his ‘better side’ for the millions watching on TV to drool over (female) or snicker at (male).

Now I know I’m being quite critical of Beckham here. For his fans, I do in fact like him. He was once an effective player who served his various clubs and his country well. I just don’t see the point in his coming out and giving this interview so long after England’s elimination has been dead and buried and written and read about to exhaustion.

And to further my views on Beckham, I don’t see why he’s still associated with the England national team. Was his presence in South Africa a benefit or a detriment to England? What really was his purpose? Will he realistically play for England again? And why do the LA Galaxy let him trek the globe with England as they continue to pay his wages?

One thing’s for sure, Beckham’s obvious blame of the England players wasn’t his finest hour.

Now that Brazil is out of the 2010 World Cup after a underwhelming performance against a very strong Dutch team, the favorites no longer have a chance to win the tournament. But who do you think will now win the World Cup?

Before we get to the poll below, I would like to add that I thought Brazil’s performance today was dire. For a team with so much talent, why did they spend so much time arguing with the referee and trying to convince the official to award yellow cards against the Dutch? Yes, the Dutch are a physical side and Arjen Robben has a penchant for diving. But those antics by Brazil completely got them focused on the wrong aspects of the game.

Felipe Melo must feel a lot like David Beckham did in the 1998 World Cup. In a game that Brazil had the advantage, they quickly threw it away when Melo dug his boot into Robben who had just fallen to the floor. Sure, Robben is annoying and he likes he win free kicks. But for Melo to kick him so violently the way that he did is completely uncalled for. It lost Brazil the game just as David Beckham’s kick out lost England the game against Argentina in 1998.

The Netherlands today was lucky. They didn’t play up to their abilities but they did well to come back against a tough Brazilian side. And now they face the prospect of playing a World Cup semi-final match on Tuesday. Congratulations to the Dutch.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe there has a been a goal in the 2010 World Cup thus far that has been scored directly from a free kick. In a sport where the difference between a winning and losing team is often a goal from a direct free kick, it seems odd that there have been none thus far.

Yes, David Beckham is not playing due to injury. But how many free kicks have we seen that have floated over the bar or hit the wall of defenders?

Why do you think that is? Is it because of the ball, poor free kicks by teams or something else?

What happens if you combine Star Wars with Adidas, Snoop Doggy Dogg, David Beckham, Ian Brown from The Stone Roses and other famous musicians? It sounds like a surreal dream, but it’s all here in the TV commercial above.

When you think about it, both Star Wars (the original) and Adidas are icons of the 1970′s, so it’s a perfect marriage of two brands that have stood the test of time. In the past several weeks, we’ve seen an onslaught of soccer TV commercials, but this one from Adidas is one of the most creative ones I’ve seen.

In addition to the above named stars, keep an eye out for Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Daft Punk, Franz Beckenbauer and many other celebs.

Every country has its historic matches that will never be forgotten and England’s rich World Cup history provides many celebrated games. Say phrases like “1966 World Cup”, “hand of God”, “David Beckham free kick”, “Gazza”, or “losing to penalties” to an England fan and watch his eyes light up with pleasure or grief thinking about the matches that define the England National Team.

Sometimes these great, historic games are not the matches that you remember (for no other reason than maybe not being alive at the time). You may take these famous matches into historical perspective but you actually remember the games that, for some reason, speak to you in some way or other. It could be as simple as a goal that you find stunning, the debut of a player you particularly like, or your club players carrying the side. It could just be that the game represents to you a particular time in history for the team.

Here are five England matches (and an honorable mention) I find particularly memorable.  While not necessarily a list of the best England matches I’ve seen, these are the ones I will never forget.

• Against Scotland in 1996

What I most remember about this match is Gazza’s flick over the Scottish defense that was followed by the famous celebration in this two goal win.

• Against Argentina in 1998

I fondly remember this match for a very young Michael Owen dribbling past the Argentine defense to score an inspired goal. Not so fondly remembered is the David Beckham red card and loss to penalties.

• Against Germany in 2001

If beating Germany wasn’t enough, this game featured three of my club’s players score five goals against the opposition.

• Against Greece in 2001

The amazing David Beckham spot kick merits this match an inclusion on my list of memorable matches.

• Against Argentina in 2005

I’ll never forget this back-and-forth match that resulted in a win over Argentina. By now, you can probably guess who my favorite England player was in the past.

• Honorable Mention – Against Croatia in 2010.

To relate this back to the approaching World Cup we’re all anticipating, I find this recent match memorable because it displays the goal scoring ability of the current crop of players.

England and Chelsea star Frank Lampard recently stated he’d consider pulling an Eddie Murphy in the 1988 John Landis vehicle Coming to America, and, well, head stateside and over to the prestigious MLS in the future. The only problem with super Frank’s comments were that they were followed by the numbers 35 and 36. Like so many others before him, the implication here is that MLS may not be a bad 1 or 2 quiet years in the luxurious states resulting in one last decent paycheck before footballers hang up the old boots. Why has MLS gained such a potentially negative stigma among European talent? Will MLS ever see a top European player transfer over in their late 20′s?

Lampard, now 31 and in the prime of his illustrious career has arguably been the best player for Chelsea this season and just came off an enjoyable campaign which saw the west London club win a league and cup double. Lampard still has three years left on his current Chelsea contract but admits he may one day follow fellow international team-mate David Beckham and former Premier League star Freddie Ljunberg to America.

“I’d like to go and play in America when I’m 36 or 35 but you can’t take away someone’s right to go and play where they want.”

Lampard’s comments again raise the question of whether or not top European players view MLS as a sort of retirement league, an easy run out they can migrate to in the twilight of their 30′s. The aforementioned David Beckham’s recent MLS stint has been anything but fruitful for the league and the Galaxy, at least in the opinion of serious soccer fans in the states. They’ve reached an MLS Cup Final, but have yet to win the trophy and have endured some pretty woeful seasons since Beckham’s arrival. All the while Beckham travles the globe in some sort of coaching/mascot role for the England national team as the Galaxy pay his massive wages.

Still, as young a league as MLS still is, is receiving the upper echelon of European footballers in their last few years such a bad thing? Imagine a 2011 with Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Beckham, Andriy Shevchenko and maybe even Raul. Surely this kind of talent couldn’t hurt the league. As top young American talent such as Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Stuart Holden, Michael Bradley and others head to England and Germany to begin and further their careers, is there really anything so bad about the opposite heading this way towards their end?

I think not. MLS has done a pretty decent job of recruiting talent from North, Central and South America while not failing to bring in marquee players to sell tickets. Time will of course tell whether or not all these rumored transfers of top talent will come to fruition or fade from memory. Until more young US soccer talent takes over MLS to help shape the future of the American domestic league and bring it credibility the world over, MLS fans will have to endure the arrival of more former European greats cashing one last check whether they like it or not.

With less than 3 months to go until England’s first group game against the U.S.A on June 12th in the World Cup and one particular pair of positions are causing more problems than anyone envisaged. At full strength, the English full-backs picked themselves with Ashley Cole easily making a case for being the best left back in world football and Glen Johnson’s continual growth as a player. Now with Cole recovering from a broken ankle and Johnson returning gradually from injury, question marks have been raised.

This has indeed opened the door to one or two players that may have considered the chance to get to the World Cup firmly shut. The additional withdrawl of Wayne Bridge from international duty has left Fabio Capello with a quandary. Can he risk hoping Cole recovers in time or simply go with the two main replacements for the position Stephen Warnock and Leighton Baines.

Baines certainly seemed to get a leg up with his starting place in the friendly against Egypt, with Warnock left on the bench. The addition of Gareth Barry as a player who could play there could see that Capello may only take Baines and a half fit Cole, hoping he can recover his fitness toward the tail end of the season. It isn’t unfeasible to see such a situation but that could leave England weak if Barry were to suffer injury or suspension.

Taking Baines and Warnock, for me makes more sense. Warnock, has been impressing ever since he left Liverpool for regular football. His inclusion as an England squad player is long overdue in my opinion. He’s tough but fair, a great ball winner, can ping passes and is flexible in his ability to play not only as a full back, but a left winger and a defensive midfielder.

Baines whilst not as flexible, is certainly no slouch, his bombing runs down Everton’s left flank over the last couple of seasons stands testament to that and he’s a smashing dead ball player. For me, if Capello was looking for a player to fit easier in to the role that Ashley Cole fills for England, Baines is more that type of player Capello likes. Unless Cole stages a miracle recovery, I’d be taking Baines and Warnock. Poor old Nicky Shorey must be thinking what if…..

The opposite flank has seen the worries subside with Johnson’s return but he’s struggled with those annoying niggling injuries recently and with Liverpool having a mixed season in the best possible sense, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed that he doesn’t break down again. Though for all his lovely play going forward, he is still prone to defensive lapses and seemingly switches off still.

That’s not to say the positive doesn’t outweighs the negative, but it’s still a concern. At 25, he really needs to be ironing these errors out of his game but he still can cause more problems than he creates opportunities for the opposition. Fully fit, he’s got the number 2 shirt. My main concern is with the back up for Johnson and the problems an injury could cause.

I’m sorry, but I’ve never rated Wes Brown at all. Yes, I know he plays for Manchester United, Yes I know he’s got 23 caps for England but I just don’t rate him. No pace, consistently caught in possession and dreadful with the ball at his feet, I would be terrified if Brown was our reserve right back. I know he can fill in at centre half, but I don’t rate him there either and he has to be the most average player to have achieved the level of success he has.

Yet, I see salvation on the horizon but I’ll get to that shortly. Micah Richards, who burst on to the scene so memorably for Manchester City as a teenager has had his issues. As with most bright young things, a dip in form is inevitable and for Richards, it unfortunately coincided with Manchester City’s new found wealth. To his credit, he’s dug in and fought his way back in to the Manchester City first team. I have to say I was very impressed with him when he came on the scene, he has masses of potential and is still young.

Ironically, it was his transfer that began the fall out between Mourinho and Abramovich when the chairman refused to meet City’s £20 million valuation. The rest is history but I think this World Cup may be too soon for Richards and I would turn to one of English football’s most consistent and criminally underated players of the last 20 years. Gary Neville.

Now, for me, Neville has never been given the credit he deserves at all for his country. The 10 year relationship that he built with his best friend Beckham playing in front of him for club and country was astounding at it’s best. Both players instinctively knew were the other would be and that type of telepathic understanding of each others game is so rare in the modern game. Recently returning to fitness and at 35 years old, it would certainly be his last hurrah but Cafu played for Brazil until he was 36, so why not. Neville was easily one of the 3 best right-backs in the world alongside Salgado and Cafu.

So maybe a couple of surprises and two differing situations leads me to the following choices then:

If Ashley Cole amazes everyone, and I hope he does I’d take Cole, Baines, Johnson and Neville. If not my four fullbacks would be Baines, Warnock, Johnson and Neville. What do you think? Who would you choose as Fabio’s four full backs?