At the End of the Day: Team GB Football and the omission of one David Beckham.

With the 30th Olympiad being staged in London now less than 2 weeks away, I myself have not been gripped by 'Olympic fever' and am unsure whether anyone else other than the athletes and Boris Johnson have either for that matter?

As an avid football fan, its a refreshing notion to have a collective Team GB football team participating in the games, albeit through the host nation ruling that allows the nation staging the games access to compete without qualification. A ruling applied throughout international footballing competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championships.

Checkered History

Team GB have twice won gold at the Olympics under the footballing umbrella, in 1908 and 1912 respectively.
Aptly resulting in a hundred year gap or wait if you will, at participating for a modest chance to be amongst the medals again for Great Britain.

Since the feats of 1908 and 1912, Team GB's involvement and progression in the competition has been sporadic and somewhat yo-yo'ed.
Withdrawing in 1924 and 28, Great Britain did reach the quarter finals on two occassions in 1936 and 1956, while their best placed finish was attributed in 1948 in the form of a fourth place finish with Matt Busby at the helm.
However, from 1964 to 1972, under Charles Hughes Great Britain did not qualify, thereafter from 1976 to 2008 the United Kingdom simply, did not enter.

This i find somewhat sad and disheartening; a collective of nations like the United Kingdom which applies itself to many facets in the sporting world, but one that does not participate in whats branded as 'our game' in a global sporting institution like the Olympics.

That being said, theirs a number of issues that may have discouraged Team GB's footballing inclusion at the games.

The Olympics is seen by many as not being the Pinnacle of Football as a sport, and success in said competition is not something that has been universally aspired to.

It was not until the games of 1984 staged in the United States, that professional footballers were allowed to compete.

Initially, teams from Europe and South America were banned from playing players who had previously competed in the FIFA World Cup, but from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, eligibility for all nations were restricted to players under the age of 23, with the exception of three 'overage' players of any age being allowed in the squad.

European qualification for the Olympic football tournament is determined via the UEFA Under–21 Championships, which affords each of the Home Nations entrance. On three occasions, teams from Great Britain have finished in the qualifying positions:

1992 – Scotland
1996 – Scotland
2008 – England

Despite attaining qualification for the past three Olympic tournaments the British Olympic Association has chosen to opt out of participating.

London 2012

As host nation of the latest installment of the games, a change of heart has been exercised by the powers that be, and with London 2012 looming large, we as a United Kingdom have ourselves an Olympic football team again.

This olympic based footballing resurgence has im sure, not escaped your attention as it has been a topic of conversation and debate for quite some time, with speculation and numerous questions being asked by the general populous such as; who will manage the team? who will the manager pick for his team? will our inclusion be a competitive one?

Answers to these questions, over time, naturally, have become illuminated.

The FA made the announcement of their chosen managerial appointment to lead Team GB into the footballing tournament in London 2012, in October 2011.

Their chosen candidate; Stuart Pearce, Englands Under-21's manager.

A not so disparaging choice, infact a solid and shrewd appointment, taking into consideration Stuart Pearces knowledge and standing in the game, but also inparticular that of the Under-21 set up both in England and further-a-field. A wealth of knowledge ideal for the role.

Commander-in-chief Missieur Pearce then set about drawing up an initial list of potential candidates to be included within the squad, a list that needed to be wittled down to just 18 players. Those contacted who did not wish to be included were told to inform the manager of their decision at that stage.

During this period numerous names were thrown around by media, critics and those within the game, numbers potentially in the hundreds.
However in December 2011, it was stated that no English players picked for the impending European Championships to be contested in Poland and the Ukraine would be selected. The reason given was to avoid and combat any cases of fatigue.
During January 2012, it was revealed that a total of 191 players at been intially contacted regards to participating in the olympic team, with 7 declining the invitation to be considered.
As April 2012 rolled by, another cut was made, reducing the list of candidates to 80, with the final pre-tournament occuring in early June, comprising of 35 names to be submitted to FIFA.

David Beckham

Throughout each stage of cuts, it has been well documented that Stuart Pearce has kept David Beckham in the loop with regards to potential selection for the games.

Additionally, David had been heavily involved in the bid to bring the olympics to London in 2012 right from the very beginning and throughout this process he has excelled in an ambassadorial role, helping promote the UK as a sporting hotbed with the facilities available to competently and efficiently stage an international competition of the magnitude the Olympics implies.

This being the case, many people, myself included had David down on their list comprising one third of the 'over-age' players.

However, on 28th of June 2012, just shy of a month before Team GB kick off their opening fixture in the olympics against Senegal, an international footballing bombshell was dropped by Stuart Pearce; David Beckham had not made the Team GB squad for the olympic games of 2012 staged in London.

The three 'over-age' players chosen by Pearce were the welsh pair of veteran Ryan Giggs who shall serve as captain and Liverpool's Craig Bellemy, the third member of this select group was Micah Richards of Manchester City who narrowly missed out on a place in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

Naturally David was gutted by this decision, as many fans were, I include myself in that bracket, as I felt David Beckham had done enough to be selected on merit, not just because of his off the field exploits that have benefitted the Olympic bid for London 2012.
I accept he is 37 years old, no longer playing in Europe and no longer in contention for a place in the England international set up.
That being said, with all things considered, he is still playing regularly for his club side in the U.S, L.A. Galaxy, who he lead to MLS cup glory last season, amassing the lead number of assists in the league and chipping in with a number of important goals, delighting fans with his trademark excellence from free kick locus.
That trademark excellence from dead ball situations as well as in open play have made him a revered man from what is now refered to as 'Beckham-range' just outside the box, which has seen no sign of dwindling with his 'advancing' years.

Since his olympic snub he has showcased his talents from said range in successive games in the MLS, where their season is in full force, which is another reason for his inclusive, David is at the peak of fitness whereas the rest of the GB team have had time off at the end of their respective seasons in the UK, and therefore may be showing signs of 'ring rust'.

As many fans would agree, seeing David Beckham compete in the Olympic games in London would have been an appropriate international farewell for David himself, and for the fans to give their admiration and appreciation for all he has done for the game in this country over the years, a loyal servant and a true gentleman of the game, who I would of paid to see pull on the Team GB jersey this summer.

Nevertheless, i will be supporting Team GB and hope they can be amongst the medals come the finish of the tournament, however with strong opposition in the guise of Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Uruguay, it promises to be a very competitive and compelling tournement.

Team GB's fixtures begin with a friendly against Brazil tomorrow at the Riverside stadium in Middlesbrough, six days later their Olympic adventure kicks off against Senegal at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Thereafter, group games against the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay respectively, will be staged, can Team GB progress?