Globe and Mail Update and Associated Press
LONDON — David Beckham was named to England's squad for exhibition games against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, but as a result of his international duty will miss his Major League Soccer debut in Toronto for the second year in a row.
Fabio Capello, England's coach, picked the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Sunday for his squad of 31 to face the Americans at Wembley on May 28 and at Trinidad on June 1.
The good news for England is bad news for Toronto FC fans as Beckham was scheduled to play an MLS game in Toronto on May 31. Last year, Beckham was injured and on the bench when the Galaxy played Toronto FC at BMO Field.
Canadian soccer fans will still have a chance to see Beckham, though. He and the Galaxy are scheduled to be in Edmonton Tuesday at Commonwealth Stadium to play the Vancouver Whitecaps in an exhibition game. Also, Beckham is likely to be on the MLS all-star team, scheduled to play in Toronto on July 24 against West Ham United.
John Terry, who dislocated his elbow in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Bolton Sunday, is expected to recover in time for England's games and is one of five Blues on the squad.
It also includes four members of the Manchester United team that won its 10th Premier League title in 16 years and second in a row by beating Wigan 2-0 on the final day of the season.
Three defenders are newcomers to the squad: Everton's Phil Jagielka, Middlesbrough's David Wheater and Blackburn's Stephen Warnock. But it also includes West Ham striker Dean Ashton, who was chosen in a squad to face Greece in August of 2006 but broke his ankle in his first training session ahead of the game.
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone, Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart could also make their first appearances.
