When England national team coach Fabio Capello decided to let David Beckham join England’s World Cup qualifying squad, many assumed that after his historic 100th cap, the British icon would be sent back to the States to play sub-par soccer. Well, that’s not the case because Capello says he has future plans for Becks on the team, including a role that includes him becoming the team’s Cristiano Ronaldo… who’s now leading the world in soccer sexiness, as opposed to Becks, who leads the world in Armani ads. Not even Luke Skywalker could get fans and the team to believe that Jedi mind trick.

Capello pointed out that for the first half of Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to France he had used Wayne Rooney as a lone striker, supported by Steven Gerrard, because that was precisely where each were currently playing for Manchester United and Liverpool.

However, when it was put to him that, at club level, Rooney was supported by Ronaldo, while Gerrard worked with a striker of Fernando Torres’s class, Capello replied: “I have David Beckham and Rooney can be our Torres. I believe they are both good players.

Capello does not imagine that the 32-year-old former England captain, whose best work is now largely confined to dead-ball situations, can ape the game of Manchester United’s highly-mobile 23-year-old…

Gee what gave it away, the lumbering movement that comes from multiple knee operations, or David Beckham’s lack of bingo equipment?

Capello sees David Beckham in Ronaldo role [Daily Telegraph]
Image [Daily Telegraph]