DAVID BECKHAM'S protracted wait to complete a century of England caps will end next week after the former captain was named in Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man squad for the friendly against France in Paris.
Capello has been persuaded that Beckham's form and fitness warrant his inclusion after his general manager, Franco Baldini, returned from Los Angeles Galaxy's pre-season friendly at Dallas satisfied about the 32-year-old.
He has been joined by the uncapped David Wheater of Middlesbrough for the game at the Stade de France, with Theo Walcott and Gabriel Agbonlahor offering youth and pace. Yet it is Beckham's involvement which will draw the focus for the high-profile friendly.
The midfielder has been poised on 99 caps since the defeat by Croatia at Wembley last November, having been omitted on fitness grounds for the fixture against Switzerland last month. Capello has grown weary of the intrigue surrounding whether Beckham will follow Peter Shilton, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Billy Wright in accumulating 100 caps, and has preferred to settle the issue rather than wait until the United States visit Wembley on May 28th, when any inclusion might have been deemed little more than a PR stunt.
"I always said that when David Beckham was fit, he could be in the squad," said Capello.
"I have had good reports on him from Franco Baldini, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club. I know a lot about David Beckham and what he can offer the team."
It is highly unlikely the midfielder will be omitted when the squad is reduced to 23 on Saturday night, though it remains to be seen whether Wheater's rise to prominence will culminate in a first cap. The Middlesbrough centre-half (21) was on loan at Darlington in League Two just 12 months ago but has been a consistently impressive performer at the heart of defence this season.
The lack of a competitive fixture for the under-21s - they play Poland in a friendly at Molineux on Tuesday - convinced Capello to hand him an opportunity in the set-up, where he is joined by Walcott and the uncapped Agbonlahor.
France coach Raymond Domenech has again overlooked striker David Trezeguet when naming his 39-man squad to face England and Mali on Tuesday and Wednesday. He has included five newcomers - Olympique Marseille forward Mathieu Valbuena, Olympique Lyon midfielder Mathieu Bodmer and defenders Adil Rami of Lille and VfB Stuttgart's Mathieu Delpierre.
Florent Sinama-Pongolle is the fifth, after the Recreativo Huelva striker was called up to replace Manchester United's Louis Saha, who pulled out late yesterday. The French federation did not give a reason for Saha's withdrawal.
France will play England at the Stade de France on Wednesday while a B team will face Mali at the Stade Charlety in Paris on Tuesday.
"I wanted to see a maximum of players, be able to test some new things and also make sure we have options if ever some players get injured," said Domenech.
