CAPELLO IMPRESSED BY BECKHAMDavid Beckham looks likely to make his 108th appearance on Wednesday when England play European Champions Spain, after head coach Fabio Capello dropped a big hint on Friday, saying that has been impressed by the midfielder's fitness since joining AC Milan on loan.
Beckham, who turns 34 in May, will equal Bobby Moore's Three Lions record number of caps for an outfield player if he takes to the field in the friendly at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium in Seville. And Capello has been delighted with the form of the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star since being loaned from Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy to the Serie A club.
The former England captain, initially discarded by Capello's successor Steve McClaren, has scored twice in his first five appearances having joined the Rossoneri on a three-month loan in January.
He believes he is fitter than he has been in some time, and in an obvious plea to Capello to select him he said in midweek: "When I came to Milan, my body fat was at 13.7 per cent. Now, it is down to 8.5 per cent. The training regime has helped."
While the Italian coach, who managed Beckham at Real Madrid in 2006-07, insists that he has no interest in anyone's personal milestones - "I never think about this when I choose a player or make a substitution" - he admits he has been pleased with Beckham's physical improvement in Italy.
"He is better than he was six months ago," said the 62-year-old. "He is fit now. This is important for David and for us. And every player in the squad has to play, not just train.
"He is a very important player and I've watched him in one game in Milan and (deputies) Italo Galbiati and Franco Baldini saw his other games. He is getting better and better with each game."
Capello said that he could understand Beckham's desire to remain at Milan, a club he himself spent three years at as a player and managed for six years when he collected nine items of silverware including the Champions League trophy in 1994.
"The game is different in Serie A [compared to the America MSL]," continued Capello. "There is more pressure. It is stronger. That is the difference. I think he wants to stay for those reasons - it's exciting, Milan are a good team.
"But he has to choose. I've never spoken to him about it - that is not my job. It's AC Milan or Los Angeles' problems. David is very fit now and this is important [for me]."
Labels: Bobby Moore, David Beckham, England, Fabio Capello, Spain
