Galaxy ties Timber, 1-1, as Beckham logs more time with Tottenham
David Beckham has decided to extend his sojourn with Tottenham Hotspur in England by another two weeks rather than return to California on Thursday as planned.
And the Galaxy’s reaction to that?
Basically, it was a yawn and a “so what.†At least that seemed to be the response on Tuesday afternoon, when the team played its first Major League Soccer opponent of the preseason.
With Beckham almost 6,000 miles away and not really on anyone’s mind, the Galaxy tied the expansion Portland Timbers, 1-1, in Carson. Uruguayan newcomer Paolo Cardozo scored the Los Angeles goal.
On Thursday in Carson, the team plays another MLS opponent, the San Jose Earthquakes, and on Sunday, the Galaxy leaves for Arizona for a 10-day training camp that will feature a game against the league champion Colorado Rapids and two games against the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps.
Beckham will miss all of those matches too, having announced on his website that he would not be back in Los Angeles until Feb. 24, only three weeks before the Galaxy’s March 15 season opener at Seattle.
Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena is not overly perturbed about this development. The midfielder is getting individual attention at Spurs as he tries to regain full fitness, and having Beckham in Arizona, it seems, would be more of a distraction than a plus.
“It was something we agreed to weeks ago,†Arena said.
In any case, the English midfielder, who turns 36 in May, has a new goal in mind, one that goes beyond helping the Galaxy win an MLS title and has more to do with keeping the Beckham name in the media spotlight.
He wants to return to the Premier League when his five-year contract with the Galaxy ends in December.
The unannounced agenda, of course, is that Beckham harbors hopes of being a part of England’s Euro 2012 team, assuming Coach Fabio Capello and company qualify for the quadrennial European Championship, to be co-hosted next year by Poland and Ukraine.
To achieve that, Beckham believes he needs to be playing in the Premier League, preferably for a team that will be involved in either Champions League or Europa League action next season.
That puts Tottenham squarely in the picture, and Spurs Coach Harry Redknapp is on record as saying he would consider signing Beckham when his final MLS season ends.
“I’d have him back any time,†Redknapp said last week.
“He’s still keen to keep playing, that’s for sure. I’m sure he’s got a lovely place in Los Angeles where he could be at the moment, but he’s over here because he loves the game and wants to keep playing. Most footballers would rather be in Los Angeles.â€
Cardozo, Tuesday’s goal scorer, certainly does.
“He’s a smart player,†Arena said. “He brings a lot of energy to the field. He’s a good passer of the ball. He still has to find his way with our team and with MLS, but we’re pleased with him.â€
The Galaxy’s other new South American midfielder, Argentina’s Miguel Lopez, had a no less eventful day. He was red-carded for a studs-up challenge on a Portland defender, the ejection being perhaps a little harsh, especially in a training game.
“I think it’s preseason for referees, obviously, as well,†Arena said with a smile.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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