贝克汉姆落选英国国奥队

据英国媒体报道，英国国奥队最终名单已基本确定，之前入选大名单的著名球星贝克汉姆遗憾落选，无缘伦敦奥运会。目前效力于洛杉矶银河队的小贝通过发言人表示，他对这一结果很失望，不过仍然是英国国奥队最忠实的支持者。最终入选国奥队的三名超龄球员为曼联边锋吉格斯、利物浦前锋贝拉米，以及曼城后卫理查德。英国足球协会将于下周正式向英国奥林匹克协会提交国奥队最终名单。受此影响，博彩界有关贝克汉姆有可能点燃伦敦奥运火炬的赔率也大幅削减；批评人士也表示，不希望让奥运赛场成为贝克汉姆的个人秀场。奥运会足球比赛是所有奥运项目中唯一有年龄限制的比赛，所有参赛队员均需在23岁以下，不过允许每队有三名超龄球员。

David Beckham has been omitted from Britain's Olympic football squad in a blow for the former England captain's dreams of crowning his career in style.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder had been widely expected to win selection as one of the three over-age players in Stuart Pearce's Under-23 squad for the London Games in July and August.

"Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me," Beckham, 37, said in quotes relayed by his spokesman on Thursday.

British media reports said Manchester United's long-serving Welsh winger Ryan Giggs, Wales striker Craig Bellamy and Manchester City right back Micah Richards, who missed out on England's Euro 2012 campaign, had been chosen.

An official explanation for coach Pearce's decision has yet to be issued by the Football Association (FA).

The FA will hand a final team list to the British Olympic Association (BOA) early next week.

"As with every sport, player selection is the responsibility of the National Governing Body, the coaches and performance personnel," a BOA statement said.

"With respect to men's football, the BOA has not yet received from The FA the list of players who are being nominated for Team GB, so we cannot confirm who is, and is not, under consideration for the side. We are expecting the list no later than the early part of next week."

Beckham, who has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan in a glittering career, was watched by Pearce during a recent match for the Galaxy and was included in his initial 35-man squad.

Beckham told reporters last month: "I don't want to be picked on a shirt sale or a stadium filler. I want to be picked because of what I can bring to the team."

Beckham was England's most capped outfield player with 115 appearances but has not played for the national team since 2009.

The world famous trend-setter now misses the chance to captain an England side at World Cup, European Championship and Olympic level.

OLYMPIC AMBASSADOR

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe said he would now discuss a "Games time role" with the globally recognised sports figure who played a role in London winning the Olympics.

Beckham has been used extensively in the buildup to the event and helped to bring back the flame from Greece.

"David has been an extraordinary supporter, probably our number one supporter, of the Games from the very beginning and is keen to continue his enthusiastic support right to the end," said Coe.

"He really gets this. He is from East London and knows how important the Games and sport are to young people.

"He is a great role model and we are lucky to have such an advocate. I will be talking to him about a Games time role."

As a result of the decision to leave Beckham out of the Team GB football squad, odds have been slashed for him to light the Olympic cauldron. British bookmakers Ladbrokes quoted odds of 5/1.

Critics, who believe football has an uneasy place in the Games because of the vast sums of money professionals earn, have said they would be uncomfortable with the Olympics becoming a "David Beckham show".

The Olympic football tournament, originally designed for amateurs but now the only Games event to have an age limit, is not so highly regarded in Europe where the World Cup and European Championship are seen as the elite tests.

Olympic football is popular among South American players, however.

Hosts Britain, taking part in their first Olympic football finals since 1960, will kick off their bid for gold against Senegal at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium on July 26.

The Welsh Football Association, along with the Scots and Northern Irish, have been concerned that the inclusion of their players in a rare British squad for the Games could affect their football independence but football's world governing body FIFA has tried to allay their fears.