By Donal (Sports Editor)

With today’s announcement of the provisional England squad for their friendly against France on March 26th, it looks like David Beckham will finally win his 100th international cap.

England fans have every reason to feel disheartened by this news.

Either Becks is going to be awarded a cheap cap so that the fuss over number 100 can be put to bed or else Fabio Capello has found the performances of David Bentley, Shaun Wright Phillips and Aaron Lennon so unconvincing, that he has resorted to selecting a a player who is well past his best and enjoying a period of well-paid semi-retirement in a Mickey Mouse league (sorry MLS fans).

The 100 cap milestone also rings rather hollow as it is hardly the crowning achievement of a distinguished international career that it should be. Sure Beckham has had his moments for England, but none of them really amounted to much; did they?.

The goal against Columbia in 1998 was the precursor to his infamous sending off against Argentina (although aftermath of that incident was probably to his commercial benefit in the long term).  The highlights of Becks international career; the free kick against Greece and the penalty against the Argies in the subsequent World Cup, were followed by his rather inglorious performance in a quarter final defeat to ten-man Brazil.

Since then, his most memorable international moments have been a few missed penalties at Euro 2004 and the tears he shed as he sat on the bench after been substituted during Englands defeat to Portugal in the 2006 World Cup.

The Beckham era hasn’t been a particularly golden one for the English national team. I see no reason why the English should feel anything but disheartened by its continuation.

Predict if Becks will in fact win his 100th Cap on March 26th

Will David Beckham play in England’s March 26 friendly against France?

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