That is the million dollar question. It's up to David Beckham himself to make the call on if he plays soccer tonight according to Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop.
"The ultimate decision will come down to David," Yallop said. "We'll see how he is. I'm not going to put him out there to re-injure it. We'll put him out there when he is fit and ready to go. He's getting close. We won't force it. He knows his own body and he'll let us know if he is ready to go."DC United player Ben Olsen has meanwhile leapt to Beckham's defence for criticism the England player has received for his delayed start to life in MLS. Olsen, a former Nottingham Forest defender who appeared for the USA at last year's World Cup, has plenty of sympathy for Beckham.
"I feel awful for him," Olsen told the DC United website. "As a player you relate to him as a player and if you were in his situation.
"He understands what is riding on this and the eyes that are on him. For him to be sitting there must be pretty painful.
"Everyone in the media is saying he is here on a holiday; that's ridiculous. This guy who has done great things in his career and has always been a guy who has given 100 per cent when he plays, has had a remarkable career. So for some people to be saying that is ridiculous and I feel for him."
Given all the criticism that David Beckham has had for not playing since his LA Galaxy debut, I truly think if he could he would. He knows that he was paid to play, and if he doesn't the backlash will continue.
(WENN)
More photos of David Beckham on the practice field after the jump.
(WENN)
green cardigan says:
David Beckham should get out on that pitch, even for 15 minutes.
He has never been a world class player. He is so over hyped. He will not be remembered as one of the great soccer players like Maradona or Ronaldo.
miss priss says:
Why is the decision up to him, shouldn't it be the doctor's decision. The Galaxy has really mismanaged this thing from the beginning especially by playing him at the debut when he wasn't in good shape and hidding the seriousness of the injury.
factory girl says:
how stupid can you all get?
why would he not want to play?
to break your irrationality down in logical points:
the money he gets and the sum you are all throwing around so freely is based on performance and stuff.
he is bloody injured!!! he has had problems like this before and because he didn't listen to his body and played one game too many he is now in this situation ...
he is the most committed person you will get!
and besides for adidas and AEG this is a complete PR disaster ... so why do you think it is on purpose?
he is not one of your Hollywood trollops who don't wanna work. he is completely committed, but injured ...
I don't know how you can even come up with these stupid accusations ... must be an american thing!
and it well pisses me off ... he should have never gone to LA ... what a waste of his talent!
meg says:
The team doctor or coach should have long explained to the press the specifics of his injury instead of leaving it up to him to do it in every city he goes. He said he needs at least 10 days more to recover yet the team and espn haven't ruled him out, all just to get people to watch with their "will he or won't he foolishness".
Persistent Cat says:
Don't you think he wants to play? He's an athlete, soccer is probably the only thing he ever wants to do/play.
kiti says:
No doubt he wants to play, but this whole situation shouldn't be such a shock to people since he has already spent a lot of time on the bench due to injury while in Europe. I understand that in Madrid he was ready to be put out to pasture. For the US, he still has marketing value. Hopefully, the team can get their expected return before spectators become tired of the whole thing.
2 Old 4 This says:
ooooooh Factory Girl!
Best Becks Rant EVER!