Should David Beckham be picked for the World Cup

Like my last post, this is a topic that has sparked much debate and is a subject i know many feel strongly about after years of him restoring the pride into the England crest. So should he go to south Africa? or are England better off with taking Walcott, Lennon and Shaun wright Phillips instead? Unlike the other three, Beckham has experience that not many international footballers could ever dream of achieving. Arguably the greatest English pro ever, Beckham has proven over the years that he has the ability to change the course of a match just with his elegant passing skills. Yes, he has aged since the heroics in Greece, but surely just to have such an icon in the camp to keep the starting 11 relaxed and offering advice is ultimately enough to secure his place. I agree with the majority that he is no longer acceptable enough to be named in the starting 11, but in a matter of desperation, what better option to have entering the greatest stage of all. Beckham's class, ability and reputation all strike fear into the hearts of the opposition regardless of his exceeding age.
Admittedly, options such as the pace of Lennon and Walcott are luxuries and shouldnt be discounted. However, can Mr Capello afford to leave the biggest icon in the world to be sitting on a Spanish beach in the summer? I think not. You only hve to look at the magnificent evidence where Beckham has delivered remarkably under pressure, a trait few can master. Take Greece, i dont think you need reminding, last minut on the verge of missing out on a World cup, only Beckham could have saved us, and he did. Croatia, on the verge of not making it to Euro 2008, and indeed we did fail. Nevertheless, when he graced the Wembley pitch on that gloomy, damp evening, who was it that put England back in with a shot of making it? It was Beckham with one of the most magnificent long passes into the path of Crouch. He was one of few in that match who showed the real desire and passion that has been lacking for years now. So there is my verdict, i would be most greatful if you could leave a comment on the post and also your opinion on whether Beckham should be on the Plane. Thank you. :)

Who should partner Rooney in the World Cup.

Much discussion has taken place on the difficult solution to finding Wayne Rooney's partner for the 2010 world cup in South Africa, so who would best fit this role? The height of Crouch? The form of Defoe? Of course not ruling out the possibility of perhaps Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole who's physical dominance on the pitch could prove to be invaluable.
Doubts surround all the candidates, does Crouch get found out against the better teams, is Defoe out of his depth and does Heskey quite simply not score enough goals? Love him or hate him, when called upon, Heskey has evidently provided a target to hold the ball and allow Rooney to to really be the focal point of the English team. But, it takes no fool to realise that his goal scoring abillity is abysmal and has been for quite some time, will this cost him his starting place? Crouch on the other hand has an excellent goal scoring record for England scoring 18 goals in just 35 caps. However, the problem i have with Crouch is that when coming up against a higher ranked team, he fails to find his goal scoring form that he has against the likes of Andorra and Macedonia. Why? Because a striker like Crouch strives of his height, and when he comes across the experience of Puyol and Lucio, their world class abillity is overwhelming for Crouch and leads him to being marked out the game. Perhaps a better option would be to play him against the teams we face in the group stage, but will that lead to a lack of consistency in the team and more significantly not having a best starting 11. Defoe has clealry been on fine form, perhaps the finest of his life, realising his potential it is clear that Defoe desperately wants his ticket to South Africa and he hasnt done his chances any harm. He remains the most likely to take his place next to Rooney as his sharpness, pace and desire all contribute to him being a top contender for the role. But could the occasion be too much for him? Is there a need for experience up front with Crouch who has already played consistently in the 2006 World Cup or is this Defoe's time. Lastly, I feel it is noteworthy to mention Carlton Cole who has also been on great form since switching to the claret shirt of West Ham. His physical presence and agillity put him in good stead against the Netherlands where he was suprisingly excellent. Can the combination of physicality and an eye for a goal be potent enough to secure him a place next to Wayne Rooney, only time will tell. Please leave your opinion of who should play up front with Rooney and any additional comments on the post as a whole. Thank you.