Stuart Pearce has stoutly defended his decision to omit David Beckham from the Great Britain Olympic football squad, insisting the 18-man team was selected purely on footballing merit. The Team GB coach told the LA Galaxy midfielder last week that he had not made the final cut, sparking widespread criticism.
“We mustn't be sidetracked to think that David is a standalone professional who is desperate to play in the Olympics above anyone else,” Pearce said. He stressed that Beckham was not alone in his ambition, and that he picked the squad for “football reasons”, not sentimentality or ticket sales.
Pearce also denied that nationality played a role, despite the inclusion of five Welsh players and none from Scotland or Northern Ireland. “There are no nationalities in my eyes, these are all Olympians now,” he stated. The coach admitted the challenge of quickly moulding the team into a cohesive unit ahead of their opening match against Senegal on 26 July.
The three overage players selected are Craig Bellamy, Micah Richards and Ryan Giggs, who is expected to captain the side. Pearce defended these choices, noting Bellamy was a “given”, Richards was needed due to defensive injuries, and Giggs had an “outstanding” season for Manchester United. He ruled out making Beckham a member of his backroom staff due to limited passes.
Pearce said he had watched Beckham multiple times and conducted due diligence on all players. “I feel very sorry for David, I know how much it meant to him,” he added, but maintained that his decision was based solely on footballing ability.
