Last updated at 15:38, Thursday, 05 July 2012

I am in no way a David Beckham fan, but even I can see the foolishness and wasted opportunity in not picking him for the GB Olympic football team.

Manager Stuart Pearce has said: “David Beckham will be treated exactly the same as any other individual, whether it is young or over-age.

“I have a duty of care to the Great Britain squad to try to win a gold medal. I will pick the strongest squad I can.”

This is so wrong.

Firstly, because he is a special case.

He has been an incredibly important ambassador for this country in winning the right to stage the Olympics.

He is widely respected round the world and being a member of the team would have added extra interest and glamour to a football tournament that has failed to grab anyone’s imagination or prompt many to buy tickets.

Secondly, there’s absolutely no way the GB squad could win a gold medal.

We couldn’t win gold if we picked our strongest team including all the over-aged players we wanted.

The youngsters from Argentina, Brazil, Spain and France would beat us soundly.

We’ll be lucky to qualify from a group that includes the might of Uruguay, Senegal and United Arab Emirates, I can’t see how having Becks on the training pitch, in the dressing room and in the press conferences would harm our chances.

First published at 11:24, Thursday, 05 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk