By IANS
London : Former England captain David Beckham has been left in the dark about his 100th cap for the national side after assistant manager Franco Baldini, who travelled to Texas to watch him play, kept mum on the star’s chances of making it to the squad against France next week.
Baldini flew out to watch Beckham, 32, in action in a charity match between his club side LA Galaxy and FC Dallas last week.
While Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit and Dallas counterpart Steve Morrow both agreed Beckham still has the firepower to don the England jersey in the friendly against France March 26, the player will have an anxious wait until Thursday’s squad announcement.
“I’ve not had a chance to speak to him (Baldini). The fact that he was here and looking at me didn’t affect me. That’s part and parcel of being a player for the national team. I just have to go and perform, work hard and show that I am fit enough,” Beckham was quoted as saying in The Daily Mirror.
The former Real Madrid star earned his 99th cap last year against Croatia, a game England lost, ending the side’s hope of playing at the European Championships this summer.
The defeat also marked Steve McClaren’s departure as England coach with Italian Fabio Capello taking over the reins of the team.
Soon after taking charge of the England side, the Italian left out Beckham from his first squad in a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley, which England won 2-1.