4. The Other Over-Age Options Are Better
Ryan Giggs, Micah Richards and Craig Bellamy. All three offer something more than a good right foot and commitment, even if Ryan Giggs' inclusion does smack slightly of the same ceremonial selection that I am so dead against in David Beckham's case. But even in that case, Giggs comes to the Olympics after another season in the Premier League, in the team that came second, and having played a part in that final position, albeit a lesser one than he has in former seasons. Craig Bellamy meanwhile offers something more than most U23 England strikers at the minute, and would probably have got into the England squad were he born in this country based on how poorly the current strikeforce have been doing. The majority of the backlash aimed at the three rumoured over 23 inclusions has been and will be aimed at Micah Richards, thanks to his conduct surrounding the EURO 2012 squad, and specifically refusing to be on the waiting list. Yes, it was something of a poor PR decision to turn the opportunity down, but Richards should have been included in the main squad from the off. He is powerful, fast and passionate on the pitch, and the snub for the EUROs squad hurt him - making a mockery of accusations that he won't care enough to warrant inclusion in the Olympics. He walked away because it meant something to him. Personally I would prefer to have not only these three players, but a long list of other over 23 players ahead of Beckham, based on current form and value to the team's performance, as opposed to the hope of an intangible effect he will have on the spirit of the camp.