David Trezeguet vs David Beckham. The top scorer in Italian soccer and a veteran of three World Cups, Trezeguet has been recalled to France’s lineup for Wednesday’s friendly against an England squad that has Beckham back for his 100th appearance.
The two stars now have to convince their coaches there should be more to come even though time isn’t on their side. France coach Raymond Domenech is building a team capable of winning this summer’s Euro 2008 championship while England’s Fabio Capello has to look further ahead.
The team he inherited from Steve McClaren didn’t qualify for Euro 2008 and his job is to build a squad to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Whether that involves Beckham only he and the Los Angeles Galaxy star will know. “As much as I’m honored to be here, I want it to carry on,” Beckham said after joining up with the England squad for the first time since Capello took over in December. “It’s not about ‘have your 100th game and then retire.’ The 2010 World Cup remains an ambition for me. I am quite a stubborn person so it is something I want to reach. I’d love to be part of the squad in 2010.”
Trezeguet could partner Anelka
While Beckham has to wait two more years for the chance of success with England, Trezeguet already has won both a World Cup and a European Championship with France and was in the lineup that lost on penalties to Italy at the 2006 World Cup.
The Juve star joins up with France for the first time since September, 2007. Depending on Domenech’s tactics, he could line up in attack alongside Nicolas Anelka.