Well done Mr Capello, at least you have the guts to stand up to the football 'experts' in the newspapers.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

ITS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE!!!!
thats what you get when you employ a foreigner.
any englishmen with half a clue (even my mum) would have given Becks his 100th cap, even if he didnt want him in the team - we're only playin in a friendly anyway - poor mr beckham obviously being englands best and most passionate player for the last 10 years counts for nothing.....tut tut!!

dave, bradford,

No place for sentimentality in Football. Look how far it has got us recently
Becks has done very good things for England (a goal against Greece springs to mind) and very bad things(playing in two major tournaments when clearly not fit).
Capello has not ruled him out for the future so all the girls out there who want to see him running around in his England shorts will have their chance.
I hope he drops one of Lampard and Gerrard now. That does not work either.
Well done Fabio

James, London,

I think FC has got this decision bang on.

England obviously needed a new manager, but they needed a new start more than anything.

The 'jobs for the boys' mentality that has existed for many years had to be removed, ideally replacing it with one of 'picking players on form rather than reputation'.

Beckham himself took the decision to effectively retire from competitive football when other opportunities were available, so he has only himself to blame.

There is no place for sentiment in modern football. Beckham played 99 times for his country, and that is an achievement in itself. But England have done nothing in that time, culminating in deservedly not qualifying for a major tournament.

Let FC start again and let's all make it easier for him by bringing the ridiculous Beckham bandwagon to an end.

Greg, Cambridge,

Al, Weybridge, UQ

If you had ever seen a Capello team perform you would know that "headless chicken performances" simply do not exist. England will be well organised and effective. Many will take this to be dull, but it will be much better being dull and winning for a while than the fiasco catalogue of the McClaren years.

And, when even top teams underestimate a Capello side they are put to the sword. 1994 may be a long time ago, but Johan Cruyff's managerial career never recovered from taking Capello lightly, and many others have fallen into the same trap since.

Beckham isn't playing and shouldn't be picked. But when he's playing competitive football (at whatever level) he should be considered even if it is for the unflinching commitment he brings to teams.

Mike, Bristol,

All the talk about whether or not to give Beckham his 100th cap is irrelevant; MLS is in it's close season and so Beckham is not playing matches. Therefore, with no indication that he is match-fit, Capello leaves him out. It is as simple as that. When he starts playing for the Galaxy he will be reconsidered, as the article above states. No propaganda necessary.

However, it is ludicrous to suggest that Beckham is useless because England have never won anything recently - aren't we forgetting that there are other extremely good teams in the World? There's an article in the Fink Tank section that stated each teams chances of winning the last World Cup, and it gave Brazil, the favourites a 13% (I think) chance of winning. This means that 87% of the time they won't! Why is it such an issue that England hasn't won anything if even Brazil have such a poor chance of success?

Let Capello concentrate on making England a successful side, he has proven that he is capable of winning.

John Hope, London,

Beckham is a big part of England still, but i think it's a about time we see some new faces in the england team!!

Matt Griffiths, Market Drayton, England

good man capello thats a good start noe forget about gerrard as well and your job will be nearly done

seamus, dublin, ireland

Hearing all those Becks fans moaning louder than Mourinho after a defeat clearly indicates that English football hasn't hit rock bottom yet.

I'm intrigued to see that the incompetence and power of the media will take care of another decade without titles for the three lions.

Becks is out. No article or word about those who are actually included. Why not introduce a fifth Home Nation? With just one player it'll probably not do worse than the other four.

Paddy, London,

No player 'deserves' a cap for what they've done in the past. The present is all that matters, and Fabio is right to make his decisions based on facts, and not the pathetic feelings of entitlement of so many Beckham fans, and possibly Beckham himself.

John, Johnsonville, NZ

What game is being talked about?
Should I care?

David Michael, London, UK

How sad that our society is riven by people of such mediocrity that they vilify and abuse a loyal servant like Beckham. How sad that when a kid from the inner city makes good and makes a lot of money, so many people abuse him. All he ever did was give his all for his country and club, all he ever did was the most of his talents, and more than once he saved the england bacon and pulld the team together, and for this he is abused. Of course he should have his 100th cap, he deserves it. But the chickens in the farm yard can't stand to see someone actually spread his wings and fly... they have to peck away at him and try to bring him down. Beckham is a loyal man, and a great footballer. I don't know of another in England who can do what he can do when the chips are down, so the call was wrong. You don't leave out giants, unless you're so stunted you can't stand to see excellence. I don't know why Beckham still bothers, the fans have abused him so much for so long, but then, he's a giant!

Bob, exeter, devon

Well Fabio I supppose you need to see how bad England are without Beckham as early as possible. It's a moot point about whether he's fit enough, but hey at least you can see how useless Wright-Phillips is close at hand now. At least you can see that Lennon might be quick as well, but he can't cross a ball either. Bentley might do a trick or two, but Beckham will be back because without him they ain't a lot of use. Oh and why don't you drop Lamprd, he's done nothing for years.

Monty, Paris,

Two things:

1. What with the downright ludicrous amount of money that Beckham earns, the fact that he will be a little bit frustrated at finishing on 99 caps doesn't bother me that much. Most professional footballers would be delighted to earn 99 caps for their country.

2. Without his petulant actions that led to his sending off against Argentina, we might, with eleven players on the field, have gone on to win the game. He would then have won one more cap, taking his current total to 100.

Capello has shown that he can be strong, decisive and make decisions about players based solely on merit. He must be congratulated for not bowing to media pressure. What a contrast from Eriksson, who seemed to pick the players that the media suggested he should pick.

Steve Paine, Pontypool,

Sometimes when I read about the England players and what they earn and what they do to earn their money I think they have it easy. Then sometimes when I read the hate filled comments that are exposed by artilces such as this and I think they earn what they get.

Give me a 20 something year old beckham over any of the current midfielders anyday.

Jimmy, London,

David Beckham currently has 99 caps. FACT! For a number of years David Beckham has been a loyal and hardworking servant for his country. FACT! In that time he has been a highly publicised and controversial figure. FACT! Beckham has made, and continues to make a lot of money from the game. FACT! 99 Caps is an incredible acheivement. FACT! The thing is at this present time English football is about to enter a new age under Fabio Capello. Capello has been brought in because he is his own man. A man who does things his way. Capello has been given the job of getting us to the World Cup and hopefully doing enough to get us to win it. Capello has two years to build a squad that can succeed in these aims. Bringing in young players, blooding them is the only way that England will have a squad of seasoned professionals in or coming into their prime. Sentiment needs to be taken out of the equation. England need to build for the future in Friendlies and competitive fixtures.

Iain , London, UK

Perhaps Fabio sould look at what happened to the previous manager who thought dropping the team's best player and spiritual leader was a good idea. Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it.

Eddie, Cambridge,

don't worry guys, even with or without Becky England will never win any competition...hheheheh:-)))
and capello will maybe be able to do something with those terrible players you got over there!!! but surely not be qualified for something more than the commonwealth games...

dharta, world,

This is excellent, as new manager Capello has to stamp his authority and leave out Beckham to show what a strong man he is, unlike the hapless McLaren..... oh hang on.....

Glenn, Lichfield,

Beckham has overstayed his welcome and the publicity that continually surrounds him is tiresome. Others have now much more to offer.

Hopefully this time it is bye bye unless Capello turns out to be as gutless as some of his predecessors.

John, London, UK

Yes the under 21`s really care, unless your D. Bentley & you are very tired!!!!

P.Sharkson, Manchester,

From a tactical standpoint, Capello made the right decision. From a PR standpoint, he punted the ball. He should have named Beckham just to get this all over with. Beckham deserves to be honored and this would have been a good time to get that out of the way.

Tom, Cleveland, USA

If we had an English manager, he would have given Beckham what he deserves and that is his 100th cap.

And to all those who ask What has Becks ever done for us need to rewatch every England game he has played in - not since Euro96 have i seen a player with so much passion and pride

Hiten, London,

So, once Mr C has witnessed the usual "headless chicken" performance from our boys, he will have to recall Beckham to instill some verve, purpose and leadership into his team. As did the previous manager - can't recall his name!

Al, Weybridge, UQ

I think the bile written and spoken by those opposed to David Beckham playing 100 times for his country says more about themselves than Beckham's ability. Some people have short memories as well as being vindictive and spiteful.

Vern, Peterborough, Cambs

I think its a shame that Beckham is left out, it is only a friendly and quite frankly the rest of the best dont come close to bettering what he does, SWP is a one trick pony and Aaron Lennon just simply has'nt got it, until such time there is someone who commands respect like Beckham comes along then he should play!!

Phil Barrow, Wirral, Merseyseside

Too right! The man has been spoiled all his life and now everybody is saying he should get his 100th cap for services to English football. What service? What competitions have England won lately, sorry, I'll revise that, qualified for. Ever since he had the dim witted idea of him wanting to move into the centre of midfield, England managers have been stupid enough to let him do it. Hopefully Capello won't let Beckham's sobbing get the better of him. Bentley and Shaun Wright-Phillips deserve their chance.

Webby7, Oban, Argyll