From the Stade de France to Dick's Sporting Goods Park. On Wednesday, David Beckham made his 100th appearance for England in one of the world's leading sporting venues. Tomorrow evening he will play in the opening match of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season for the Los Angeles Galaxy at the home of the Colorado Rapids, an 18,000-capacity venue a mile above sea level in Commerce City, near Denver.

After facing France, rated seventh in the Fifa rankings, he will be up against a team who finished fourth in the MLS's Western Division last season - a place above the Galaxy. But at least his opponents will include two vaguely familiar faces.

Terry Cooke, a former Manchester United trainee, shared digs with Beckham in Salford and made his first-team debut alongside the future England captain, against Bolton Wanderers in September 1995, but played only a handful of games before leaving Old Trafford. Jovan Kirovski was with United from 1992-96, but was unable to play in the first team because of work-permit problems.

Beckham tantalised Colorado fans last year, making a high-profile but non-playing appearance there at the 2007 All-Star game shortly after arriving in the United States, but missing the MLS game against the Rapids in August. He was rested after playing two games in as many days, for England against Germany and the Galaxy against Chivas USA.

Despite that, tomorrow's game has only standing tickets available with all seats sold. But according to the FC Rocky Soccer blog on The Rocky Mountain News website, last season's events have left Colorado fans feeling that they will believe in an appearance by Goldenballs when they see it.

“A year ago, the casual soccer fan was all atwitter about the prospect of seeing Beckham,” it read. “The local media were falling all over themselves to report Beckhamania. This year, the silence is a stark contrast. Could it be that the build-up last year and the sudden crash of Beckham's failure to appear here soured people? Now, nine months later, do the middle-of-the-roaders even know Beckham is supposed to be here? Do they care? How much playing time will the Galaxy give him on Saturday?

“Los Angeles learnt last season that the playing time, training and travel can take their toll on the league's superstar attraction. But it is the season opener. So, go to the game, expect to see some Beckham, just not 90 minutes of Beckham.”

Back at the coalface

David Beckham may not have the most glamorous follow-up game to his 100th England cap, but neither did the previous centurions

Billy Wright (Wolves) Blackpool 0 Wolves 1, 22,328

Bobby Moore (West Ham) West Ham 2 West Brom 1, 26,071

Bobby Charlton (England) Colombia 0, England 4, 35,000

Peter Shilton (Derby County) Derby 1, Middlesbrough 0, 19,432