Sadly, that should end the debate.
After months of speculation about whether David Beckham would or should be in the England squad at the 2010 World Cup, an unfortunate injury has made the argument moot.
On loan with AC Milan from the LA Galaxy, Beckham ruptured the Achilles tendon in his left leg in the Rossoneri's 1-0 win over Chievo on Sunday. Club officials confirmed the injury after the match and said he will be out of action for at least three months.
Club doctor Jean Pierre Meersseman told Italy's Sky TV that Beckham will undergo an operation on Monday in Finland.
The injury ends Beckham's Serie A season, and put his chances of making Fabio Capello's England team bound for South Africa in the realm of the miraculous. As in, it'll take a miracle.
With minutes to play, the 34-four-year old Beckham, who made the starting lineup after being used as a sub during Milan's last two games, pulled up near the center circle as he prepared to kick the ball. He was under no serious pressure and there was no contact. He limped to the sideline before crumpling in pain. He wept as the realization that something serious had happened and that his desire to play in one last World Cup before returning to MLS was in all likelihood dashed.
Milan won the match 1-0 through a 90th-minute goal by Clarence Seedorf, and now lie just one point behind Serie A leaders Inter.
"It was a unique evening of its kind, but David's injury makes us feel bad," Milan manager Leonardo said after the game. "Victory is exciting, but the pain makes us enjoy it less. We all recognize David's great contribution. He is an amazing guy. Even while on the field, he was alert to the scale of the accident. He heard the tear of the tendon and muscle. Too bad. For us, it is a big blow, a genuine blow."
