David Beckham is on track to win the 100th England cap he craves in a friendly against France in Paris next week after winning a recall to the squad for Fabio Capello's second match in charge. Beckham was watched by Capello's assistant Franco Baldini in a friendly for his club, LA Galaxy, in Dallas at the weekend and obviously did enough to convince the Italians that he is fit enough to win his 100th cap in the Stade de France.Capello, who left the 32-year-old midfielder out of his squad to face Switzerland on fitness grounds, said: "I always said that when David Beckham was fit he could be in the squad."I have had good reports on him from Franco Baldini, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club. I know a lot about David Beckham and what he can offer the team."Beckham's recall comes at the expense of the Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, who unexpectedly failed to make the squad, but he is not expected to dislodge Blackburn's David Bentley from the starting line-up.
The biggest surprise was the inclusion of Walcott, although the move had been telegraphed when the 19-year-old Arsenal forward was left out of the England under-21 squad earlier in the week.Walcott became the youngest England international in history when he made his debut against Hungary in a pre-World Cup friendly in May 2006. Walcott is not yet a first-team regular at Arsenal but has produced some effective performances as a substitute this season, notably when he came on during Arsenal's Champions League win over AC Milan, a match for which Baldini was in the San Siro.Capello hinted that Michael Owen, an unused substitute against Switzerland, could be in the frame to start, and also lavished praise on Joe Cole's two-goal display in Chelsea's 4-4 draw with Tottenham on Wednesday."I saw Michael Owen play for Newcastle on Monday at Birmingham," Capello said.l " felt he looked sharp, very alive and it was good to see him scoring."I should also mention Joe Cole who I thought was excellent (on Wednesday) for Chelsea in a very exciting game. He had a massive impact."
England provisional squad
Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan)Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham), Matthew Upson (West Ham)
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), David Bentley (Blackburn), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy/USA), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham)
Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth)
David Beckham is on track to win the 100th England cap he craves in a friendly against France in Paris next week after winning a recall to the squad for Fabio Capello's second match in charge. Beckham was watched by Capello's assistant Franco Baldini in a friendly for his club, LA Galaxy, in Dallas at the weekend and obviously did enough to convince the Italians that he is fit enough to win his 100th cap in the Stade de France.Capello, who left the 32-year-old midfielder out of his squad to face Switzerland on fitness grounds, said: "I always said that when David Beckham was fit he could be in the squad."I have had good reports on him from Franco Baldini, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club. I know a lot about David Beckham and what he can offer the team."Beckham's recall comes at the expense of the Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, who unexpectedly failed to make the squad, but he is not expected to dislodge Blackburn's David Bentley from the starting line-up.
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