Ryan Giggs has admitted he wishes David Beckham was in the Great
Britain Olympics football squad with him.
The former England captain has spoken of his disappointment at
not making the 18-man party, with coach Stuart Pearce picking Giggs,
Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards as his three over-age players.
Giggs played alongside Beckham for ten years at Manchester United
before the latter moved to Real Madrid in 2003.
Giggs said: As a former team-mate and a friend of David I am
disappointed for him, but he will take it on the chin and carry on
his career.
"It's one of those things, it was not meant to be.
"That's Stuart Pearce's job, to pick a team that he thinks will
win, and that's what he's done. Unfortunately, David is not in that
18.
"I would like to say as a friend I wish he was. But I am sure the
lads who are picked will go out and do the best they can." Also
surprised by Beckham's absence is former England manager Sven-Goran
Eriksson.
While Beckham is now expected to play a leading role as an
ambassador during the Games, Eriksson expressed disappointment his
former skipper was not selected.
He said: "I haven't seen Beckham play for a long time but I think
David should be there because it is the Olympic Games, it is Great
Britain, it is England, it is London.
"So I would have picked him, put him on the bench at the very
least.
"I hope he will be involved in some way in the Olympic Games,
it's important." "David is an icon, he should be involved in the
Olympic Games in some way.
"If he can't be in the football team I hope he can be involved in
some other way. " Turning his attention to England's efforts at Euro
2012, where they went out at the quarter-final stage after defeat to
Italy, Eriksson praised the defence but concurred with the general
consensus that they must address their inability to keep the ball.
But he is optimistic new manager Roy Hodgson will address the matter
with some urgency.
"I am sure Roy is thinking about it. England have to improve
there, absolutely, " he added.
"Considering the time he had to prepare he did well, and Roy will
hopefully sort it out in the future because I think that has to be
better if they want to win a big tournament."
