Rules are rules. Or are they?
A top soccer wagering analyst at YouWager tells us the rules for the Olympics restrict men’s soccer teams to only three players over the age of 23. Great Britain’s head coach, Stuart Pearce, says every player on the team must earn his place. And Mr. Beckham has not been playing well for his MLS team here in the U.S. His dream of leading the UK’s team in the Olympics, this summer in his hometown, London, could be in trouble because of his less than stellar performance so far in this soccer betting season.
Most of YouWager’s soccer betting fans thought Beckham was a shoe-in to be the captain of the home team in England. Beckham could be a sort of elder statesman for a team that will be made up of players under 23 years old. Also, Beckham’s fame was a factor in London’s bid to host the event. One British sportswriter told a YouWager source, “Beckham was an integral part of the successful Olympic bid team. Without his efforts London may not have won. What better way to show our appreciation than to include him in the event itself?” The Daily Mail sportswriter, Martin Samuel, also jokingly suggested that Tony Blair throw a javelin.
Meanwhile, on this side of the pond, Beckham hasn’t been looking so hot in his role with the Los Angeles Galaxy. The current MLS Cup champions are currently in last place in the MLS’s Western Conference. If the UK’s Olympic coach is serious about winning games, YouWager’s soccer betting expert says, Beckham will have to find a way, quickly, to return to form and develop some confidence again.
Putting Beckham on Team England could be well received as a grand sentimental gesture for Great Britain. Beckham grew up in an East London neighborhood near the Olympic Park. He helped the city bring the event home. But as YouWager’s soccer wagering pro says, “Patriotism doesn’t win games. Well, consistently, anyway. I’ve seen sacrifices, certainly, in dramatic plays, for a country’s team. But this squad will need more than a symbolic leader. To win, it will need every player to count.”
Running the England under-21 side, and filling in as manager for the full England national team has kept Stuart Pearce to busy to come to the states and see Beckham in a MLS game. Unfortunately, he hasn’t missed much, say YouWager’s soccer bettors. The Galaxy were all set to exploit their stars with Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, and blast through the regular season for the second year in a row. However, L.A. has only managed to win one game and lose three in their first four games.
Some YouWager soccer betting fans say Beckham has even looked out of it quite a few times. Also, the team does not seem to be pulling together. Beckham was taken out of the home game at halftime in his team’s loss to the New England Revolution. Then, after telling fans he had back trouble, with muscle spasms, Beckham stayed home and missed out on a road game against Sporting Kansas City.
In England, soccer betting fans are beginning to wonder if Beckham is good for anything besides selling tickets. Sources tell YouWager the coach of England’s soccer team may wondering the same thing. If Beckham is selected for the team, and continues to play poorly, it may appear to many soccer bettors that the English team chose tickets sales over a trophy.
