David Beckham: From Hero to Zero

David Beckham has named his first England squad - for an upcoming friendly against Japan next week.

He has taken the decision to go for youths - with young Southampton goalie Adam Doyne in the squad instead of regular third-choice keeperAlex Smithies. Fulham defender Fedele Lenti, who is interestingly half-Italian, is also in the squad having impressed for Fulham in the Championship last season, while Nottingham Forest striker Colin Maddison also makes the squad. All three are important players for England Under-21s and it'll be interesting to see what fresh young blood brings to the England team.




He has also made the decision to call up Bayern allies Will Hughes and Jack Grealish.

The appointment of Beckham has sparked rumors of more chances in the England team for the two former Aston Villa players, and the rumors might be correct.

England Squad

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Fraser Forster (Celtic)
Adam Doyne (Southampton)

Defenders

Kyle Walker (Tottenham)
Martin Kelly (Manchester City)
Phil Jones (Tottenham)
Steven Caulker (Liverpool)
Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City)
Fedele Lenti (Fulham)
Leighton Baines (Manchester United)
Kyle Naughton (Newcastle)

Midfielders

Jack Cork (Aston Villa)
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Jonjo Shelvey (Manchester United)
Tom Huddlestone (Liverpool)
Will Hughes (Bayern Munich)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Aston Villa)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Jack Grealish (Bayern Munich)

Forwards

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Andy Carroll (Stoke City)
Colin Maddison (Nottingham Forest)

2013-05-22 23:06#103811 TheMS99 : Haha so much for schalke being your "challenger" title should be yours as long as YOU DON'T SCREW THINGS UP LIKE MOURINHO DID WITH MADRID THIS SEASON! Anyway, Bayern for the title, no questions asked if you can thump the current champs 4-1.

Hahaha thanks mate!

England boss David Beckham has described Tottenham defender and midfielder Phil Jones as a 'future leader' after naming the 26-year-old as England vice-captain today.

The decision comes hours before Beckham's first match in charge of England - against Japan, and with current captain Wayne Rooney hitting the age of 33 very soon, Beckham has already readied Jones for the position after naming him as vice-captain of the national team.

Beckham tried to sign Jones for Bayern Munich in the January transfer window, but a move to the Bavarians was thwarted by Tottenham Hotspur, who took advantage of Jones' indecisiveness of moving to a foreign club.

"Phil is a fantastic player and a future leader," said Beckham. "He has been the most important player for this England team for years and he only deserves this position of vice-captain. I think he will be captain very soon once Wayne (Rooney) is on his way.

"He is just a wonderful, all-round player. In fact, I think the only places he can't play is as a striker or on the wing!"

Jones made his England debut against Montenegro in 2011, and has gone on to win a magnificent number of 77 England caps.

"I appreciate the faith that David has in me," Jones told journalists before the Japan game, with an obvious tone of excitement. "He is a legend for England and the football game basically and to be named as vice-captain by him, well, I think I am definitely doing something right."

England supporters will argue he has done more than right, having been nominated for the Ballon d'Or for many, many times now and even coming close to winning it after being voted 3rd for the prestigious award in 2014.

In the same year, he won the World Player of the Year award.

Jones indeed has had a remarkable career and it seems the only path it is continuing to head for is the path of success.

Damn hes already got 77 caps?! I love Jones on FM and irl. He will be a class player and hands down is a future captain

2013-05-23 19:39#104133 k1rups : Damn hes already got 77 caps?! I love Jones on FM and irl. He will be a class player and hands down is a future captain

I like Jonesy in real life too. Too bad he's from Man Utd

England and Bayern Munich manager David Beckham enjoyed a winning debut as Three Lions boss after his national team hammered Japan 2-0 in an international friendly.

Arsenal captain Jack Wilshere and newly-appointed vice-captain Phil Jones scored the goals needed to ensure Beckham had a good debut.


Aside from Beckham, Jack Grealish was also given his first England cap, starting the match and impressing before being substituted in the closing minutes, playing in his natural attacking midfield position - although he predominantly plays on the left wing for Bayern Munich. Southampton goalie Adam Doyne also started and in his full debut, kept a clean sheet for England.

Fedele Lenti and Colin Maddison also won their first England caps after being introduced into the game after half-time for Ryan Shawcross and Wayne Rooney respectively.

It was a good glimpse of what was to come for England as they played beautiful passing football, hitting shot after shot. The performance of Japan defender Reiji Majima, however, ensured that no more than two goals were scored.

It is certainly an encouraging debut to Beckham's England career.

Fedeli Lenti? Not a very English name :p haha good start though mate

2013-05-23 19:57#104138 k1rups : Fedeli Lenti? Not a very English name :p haha good start though mate

Half Italian.

Bayern defender Siyanda Xulu has warned the rest of the Bundesliga that Bayern Munchen "are ready to take on any of them".

After seeing Schalke clinch the title last season, Bayern have now went two years without a league title. The dreadful reign of Rafa Benitez saw them finish 7th in 2017 with Freiburg surprising the rest of the world by winning the Bundesliga. The Munich men looked set to be spiraling down again last season, but David Beckham took over in November and led Bayern to a successful 2nd placed finish.

"Two years without a league title so obviously we are all very hungry for one," said Xulu, whose team are favorites to wrestle back the Bundesliga from Schalke - especially after they crushed last season's title winners 4-1 in the DFL Super Cup. "We are ready to take on every other club in the Bundesliga for it (the title)."

Xulu joined Bayern Munich in 2016 on a free transfer, being one of the first signings of Benitez. The South Africa international, who has 64 caps for his country, struggled to make an impact with the German giants but has improved tremendously after Beckham took over, making 31 league appearances in his second year at the Allianz Arena to win the Fans' Player of the Year.

"I am very happy about last year's success but now I'm focused on this year," said Xulu. "The boss is a very good manager and the entire Bayern squad all feel very privileged to play under him. He has told us that this year we are going to win the title. And we believe him. The fans must also have faith in us and him, although I trust they already have it."

The Bavarians will play a DFB Pokal cup match against Union Berlin before their first Bundesliga game against Cottbus.

I WON THE LEAGUE WITH FREIBURG ONCE haha thats a good update there mate! Xulu will be a good player this season!

South African! Represent!

Well done on the international match. Jones will become Legendary

Krupesh: That's awesome! And yes, he will be vital.

Mickzter: Thanks for the comment, and welcome to FM Scout!

Xulu is an absolute tank. Had him in my Nottingham Forest save. No need for LB/RB/CB, just Xulu lol. Good Debut again for England. (Also WTF is Oxlade-Chamberlain doing at Villa?!)

2013-05-23 23:04#104198 KingPadster : Xulu is an absolute tank. Had him in my Nottingham Forest save. No need for LB/RB/CB, just Xulu lol. Good Debut again for England. (Also WTF is Oxlade-Chamberlain doing at Villa?!)

I brought him to Aston Villa while I was Villa manager. In January 2017 for 23 million

2013-05-23 15:07#104202 Glenn T :

2013-05-23 23:04#104198 KingPadster : Xulu is an absolute tank. Had him in my Nottingham Forest save. No need for LB/RB/CB, just Xulu lol. Good Debut again for England. (Also WTF is Oxlade-Chamberlain doing at Villa?!)

I brought him to Aston Villa while I was Villa manager. In January 2017 for 23 million

I don't remember this!? lol. Must have been way over half asleep at the time.