Grace from Beckham

I knew Beckham would take being dropped from the England squad with grace (see previous post), and he has. No public shows of bitterness, name-calling, sulking, pettiness.

"I know people said I should have seen it coming," said Beckham. 'But I never saw it coming. It was a total shock. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. It's a terrible feeling not playing for England after 10 years of being involved."

McClaren revealed the kind of man / coach he is by breaking the news to Beckham in a phone call. "He said with moving on there come casualties and `you are one of the casualties'." Nice Steve. Very classy.

Beckham continued, "He [McClaren] has made a decision. But it's not bitterness that I feel. It's more disappointment and hurt...I thought I could move on with the team and not get left behind but now I have got a burning desire to prove him wrong."

I hope he does. Even when Klinsmann took Kahn out of the starting lineup, he still kept him on the team. I think this whole Beckham thing is personal, and that just sucks.