Beckham misses trip with Galaxy
If the Galaxy is to advance to the semifinals of soccer’s SuperLiga tournament, it will have to do so without David Beckham.
The superstar with the ailing left ankle stayed at home Monday when the Galaxy flew to Texas for tonight’s match against FC Dallas, a match Los Angeles must win, or at least tie, to stay alive in the eight-team tournament.
Meanwhile, Beckham’s place on the England national team for its prestigious friendly against Germany at Wembley Stadium on Aug. 22 is beginning to come into doubt because of the midfielder’s injured left ankle.
“He’s got to play for us first,” Galaxy Coach Frank Yallop said at the Home Depot Center on Monday when asked whether Beckham could be called into the England squad when it is named in two weeks.
The Galaxy resumes Major League Soccer play on Sunday at Toronto FC, then plays at D.C. United on Aug. 9 and at the New England Revolution on Aug. 12 in its first extended trip since Beckham joined the team July 13.
Beckham has not played a full match, or even trained, since his final appearance for Real Madrid on June 17, and Yallop said he would have to get on the field soon if England was to consider calling him up.
“If he plays in the Toronto game and he plays in the D.C. game, those are the two games he probably needs to say, ‘I feel great,’ ” Yallop said. “I’m sure England will wait until the last minute, because he’s been so influential for them. They’ll probably give him all kinds of time to make sure he’s ready to go.”
Yallop said Beckham would travel with the Galaxy to Toronto on Friday, and insisted that the ankle is not in worse shape than originally believed.
“It’s not so much worse than we first thought, but it’s taken more time than we thought,” he said. “The injury’s not any worse. It’s not structural. It’s just getting rid of the soreness. It’s been a long, long time.”
Beckham injured the ankle while playing for England against Estonia in a Euro 2008 qualifying game in early June.
To play for Real Madrid in its title-winning match six weeks ago, Beckham said he had received three injections in the ankle, probably painkillers, and could not feel it at all during the hour or so he was on the field.
Yallop said the problem flared up again after the Spanish season had ended and Beckham was on vacation. Beckham was not available for comment Monday, but he is frustrated by the delay, according to Yallop.
“He just wants to get going,” Yallop said. “That’s the frustrating part. But he feels a lot better. He’s going to start running today or tomorrow. He feels that he can, so that’s good.”
Pizza Hut Park in suburban Frisco, Texas, is sold out for tonight’s match, with fans having bought tickets in the expectation of seeing Beckham.
“Sorry. I mean, really, what can you say?” Yallop said.
“The fans here want to see him as well, and they haven’t seen him yet, except for 10 minutes. It is what it is. It’s reality. Unfortunately, that sports. You can’t guarantee a guy’s going to be playing, because of injuries.
“I feel very sorry for the people in Dallas, but there’s not much we can do about it. He wants to go, but he can’t go. He can’t play.”
--
TONIGHT
SuperLiga
at FC Dallas, 5 PDT, TeleFutura
Site -- Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas.
Radio -- 1330 (ESPN Deportes, Spanish).
SuperLiga records -- Galaxy 1-1-0, FC Dallas 0-0-2.
Record vs. FC Dallas (MLS play) -- 0-2.
Update -- In addition to David Beckham, Galaxy midfielder Kyle Martino did not travel to the game because of a groin injury. The Galaxy upset Pachuca of Mexico, 2-1, in its opening SuperLiga game, then lost, 2-1, to Chivas de Guadalajara. Dallas has tied Guadalajara and Pachuca and must win to advance. Los Angeles could advance with a tie, depending on the result of the other Group A game tonight between Guadalajara (1-0-1) and Pachuca (0-1-1) at Denver.
grahame. jones@latimes.com
