FA to seek Beckham's release
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Your support makes all the difference.The Football Association has not ruled out the possibility of invoking the four-day rule to ensure David Beckham's release for international duty next week.
The England coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson, will speak to his Real Madrid counterpart, Carlos Queiroz, in a bid to resolve a potential club v country conflict.
Real play their second Primera Liga match on Wednesday against Villarreal with England due to fly out to Macedonia for their Euro 2004 qualifier 24 hours later.
Fifa, world football's governing body, allow the FA to request the release of the England captain four days before the international match on 6 September, meaning he would miss out for his club. However, the FA's head of media relations, Adrian Bevington, insists this is a scenario they are trying to avoid. "Were it to become absolutely necessary, the FA could invoke FIFA's four-day rule," he admitted, "though, at this stage, we would prefer the issue to be resolved through the conversations between both managers.
Meanwhile, the Liechtenstein caretaker coach, Walter Hormann, yesterday named an inexperienced 22-man squad for next month's Euro 2004 qualifiers against Turkey and England at Old Trafford.
FC Blazers' 18-year-old defender Sandro Maierhofer, retains his place in the squad after a late call-up for the last match, a 2-2 draw in a friendly against San Marino last week.
LIECHTENSTEIN SQUAD (v Turkey, 6 Sept and England, 10 Sept, Eoro 2004 Group Seven qualifiers): Goalkeepers: Heeb (USV Eschen-Mauren), Jehle (Grasshoppers), Steuble (FC Herisau). Defenders: Eberle, Ospelt, Ritter (all Chur 97), Gigon (FC Baulmes), Hasler, Mindle, Michael Stocklasa, Telser (all FC Vaduz), S Maierhofer (FC Blazers). Midfielders: Gerster, D'Elia, Martin Stocklasa, Burgmeier (all FC Vaduz), Bichel (Chur 97), Nigg (USV Eschen-Mauren). Forwards: M Beck (USV Eschen/Mauren), T Beck (FC Chiasso), R Beck (VfB Hohenems), M Frick (Ternana).
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