David Beckham left out of Olympics squad

David Beckham

David Beckham has confirmed that he has been left out of the Great Britain Olympic football squad for the London 2012 games.

The 37-year-old former England captain, who helped London win the right to stage the Olympics in 2005, was expected to be one of the three over-23 players in Stuart Pearce’s 18-man squad.

However, Pearce has opted instead for Manchester City right-back Micah Richards, who is included alongside Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs and Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy.

“Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me,” Beckham said in a statement. “So I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squad.

“Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold.”

Pearce travelled to California last week to watch Beckham in action for his club side LA Galaxy, but the chief executive of the British Olympic Association Andy Hunt said the Team GB boss was under no pressure to pick the iconic Englishman.

“Stuart Pearce will make a decision on the best squad available given where he is in respect of now having assessed the players that are not involved in the Euros and the current state of injuries,” he confirmed. “He will then make the best call he can - on merit.

“I am not putting any pressure of him whatsoever to pick anyone. We discussed the whole topic of selecting over-23 players back more than a year ago but I haven't subsequently.

“We have been very clear from the outset, it's absolutely Stuart's choice and he is totally free to make the selection of the team he believes will put in the best performance. It's as simple as that.”

Pearce revealed as much back in April, when he said: "[Beckham’s] been a great ambassador but that's no guarantee he'll get in the squad. I'm picking on form and merit alone.

"David Beckham will be treated exactly the same as any other individual, whether it is young or over-age.

"I have a duty of care to the Great Britain squad to try to win a gold medal. I will pick the strongest squad I can."

Great Britain kick off their 2012 Olympic campaign against Senegal in Manchester on July 26th – a day before the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in London – before taking on United Arab Emirates and Uruguay later in the group stages.

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