Shilton understands Beckham exclusion

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28 June 2012-PA Sport

England great Peter Shilton understands Stuart Pearce's decision to omit David Beckham from the Team GB squad for London 2012 and believes the 37-year-old could have struggled to last the pace.

Beckham out of GB squad

Beckham revealed in a statement that Pearce, the head coach, had opted against selecting him as one of his three over-age players for the Olympics. Craig Bellamy, Ryan Giggs and Micah Richards are understood to be the over-age trio Pearce has chosen.

Shilton, England's most capped player with 125 appearances, believes Beckham would have struggled with the physical demands of competing at the Games.

"I've not been watching David play in the States but it's a different level of football over there," Shilton told Sky Sports News.

"Stuart Pearce wants to do well and win the tournament. To do that you must win so many games in so many days and the older you get the less you can do that.

"David might play the first game well, but then the second game becomes a bit harder.

"He's been a fantastic player over the years, certainly when he was at his peak, but he's nowhere near the player he was.

"It would have been great from a publicity point of view, but Stuart Pearce obviously feels he'd struggle in that type of tournament.

"You have to respect Stuart's opinion but I've always had the utmost respect for David as a person and a player."