How far and low we've come! This piece really is more soap opera than football. We appear to have entered an era where we make apologies and measure the effectiveness of a footballer by his air miles.

The sooner Becks gets his 100 caps the better! He can then put the magical number 100 on every pair of boots & replica shirt he sells. We can also, no doubt, look forward to the book: "100 matches, 100 caps" [or similarly worded title]. And, of course we have the extended DVD to commemorate his 100 cap achiement, which will include an indepth look at the 5 major tournamnets that he under-performed in wearing an England shirt.

Am I cynical? Of course I am. I'm just amazed that his team mates at the LA Galaxy aren't. With all due respect to Becks, he has more in common with Corporate America than he'll ever have with any of the other Galaxy players. Most sad of all, I fear there's more to come from BLAND BECKHAM and this unbelievably dull Anglo-American soap opera.

Stav, London,

For all the people in England that no longer want David
Beckham. We will Gladly take him of your hands.
Thank you,

mark, Los Angeles , ca

id fly twice tht amount and play twice the games for half the money he gets.

Khaki, Birmingham, UK

Does anyone really care about Beckham's situation ? I am convinced that this is all media-hype-supply-led and not a footballing public's general interest. Being a season ticket holder for Anfield and living in cosmoplotan London where I watch most matches and partake in Pub banter etc, I can't think of one footballing supporter who cares if Beckham even flew to the moon ! What do you guys think ??

Fil, London,

Sounds like Beckham was determined to play for Galaxy because he knows most Americans will want to know what he's doing to earn $50 million a year. His impact on the U.S. game has been made already. Very soon the big crowds at MLS will fall back to their normally low levels. People will have seen Beckham (once-- but that will be enough) and they'll be diverted by the new football and basketball seasons. If Galaxy end the season as woeful as they are now, the Beckham Backlash will begin. He's between a rock and a hard place for sure, but as you say, he hadn't anticipated being involved with the national team again. And since it's not the U.S. national team (which few people really support anyway, except during the World Cup), he's unlikely to get much sympathy from the U.S. public or the sports media, who (unlike the entertainment media) don't seem to like him too much. Did Beckham make a good deal or a bad deal? You decide.

Pat, Voorhees, NJ

What is going on here?Who is going to finally have the guts to put Beckham and his "circus" out of its misery?Im sorry but enough of this "bravery" garbage,we all now he loves the limelight too much,thats the real problem here.Hes not a child,he got his representatives to prize an obscene wage out of LA Galaxy and the least he can do for his 100s of millions of dollars(no,really) is turn up and play in their substandard league for 90 minutes.Please somebody end this farcical and sorry tale,hes had his time at international level,all 5 tournaments at which he was never up to it,thats the truth.England must,MUST move forward now as we approach the back end of 2007 and if we are so short of options that we continue to play a man who even at his peak was never the real deal,then we really are in serious trouble.How much more embarrassing can this "beckham stroy" get?Its become nothing more than a pathetic joke,for the love of god,i implore those concerned,give it one final fatal blow.

james, colchester,

He earns more in a day than most soccer professionals in the US earn in a year, surely his club should have first claim on him. He & his club are under enormous pressure to perform and a friendly against Germany should not have been a priority. McClaren position is remarkable considering his earlier stance.

Gary , Dublin, Ireland

If Becks misses any more games for the Galaxy, his signing is going to be considered a joke. I mean he has only played 2 full games of league play. He is due to miss the next one in Colorado (due to tiredness), although he is expected to play a SuperLiga match on Wed, that game does not bear the same importance as a MLS league game in the eyes of US fans, the game is not even going to be broadcast in English. If he flyes for the Israel and Russia qualifiers, he would have to miss 2 more games, and by then (mid September) he would have played maybe in a total of 3 full MLS league matches. So since arriving in LA in July and counting out two 15 mins cameos, the 250 million dollar man would have played 3 full games in 3 months, and the Galaxy, for sure by them would be eliminated from contention, making all the games remaining in the schedule insignificant. I am not saying it his fault, he has done everything humanly possible to play, but in the end the Galaxy are going to be a Joke.

Erick M. Perez, Miami, FL, USA

I watched Becks play in NY and played well..he is a driven man trying to please team and country ...BUT there comes a time when one must please themseleves for sanity and fitness. He will not travel to COlorado and Yallop needs to take charge. The Galaxy need to take charge fire Lalas who is a idiot. He has no good business sense he talks and no one listens. And for lack of a better word is a wannabee..AEG has the money bring in a good Pres or CEO whatever you want to call them use good business sense and professional sense and give Beckham the opportunity to perform in the best of situations not the worse. And than maybe the newspapers will stop tearing him(Beckham) apart. He is human he has a lot to offer but it mus t be under realistic circumstances. I wish him luck and shall watch whenever he plays.

EGB, New Jersey, USA

Wow, are the people who run the Galaxy team that dam selfish?
Oh forgot they are in LA the land of selfish and greed

Jax, Boston,

Sure, Yallop should have taken him out of the Galaxy game, but you've got to applaud Beckham for the effort. Or should I be just as cynical?

Seth, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

well, i don't understand why the MLS shedule don't take the FIFA fixtures in consideration, how could they play with their players in international duty, and Becks should stop trying to be everywhere, he should've asked for a rest

nawel, france,