David Beckham acknowledged it would have been unfair for him to be called up to play in England's friendly against Switzerland on Wednesday.
Beckham said he did not make the first squad named by new England coach Fabio Capello because he had not played a competitive match since November.
"It's always disappointing when you're not included in an England squad," Beckham told Sky Sports News on Tuesday. "I haven't played since December so to be called up was probably unfair."
Beckham has been dropped by Capello before _ when the two were at Real Madrid _ but Beckham earned back his place at the Spanish club and hopes to do so with England.
Beckham trained with Arsenal before heading for the Major League Soccer preseason with the Los Angeles Galaxy last week, and had hoped to reach his 100th England appearance against Switzerland. "I half expected it because I know what Fabio Capello is like as a manager," Beckham said. "If he thinks you're not fit and ready to play then you won't be in the team. I totally respect that and totally understand that.
"There are a lot of Premiership players who have played 15 games in the last two months and I haven't played a game since December." Beckham said his recent trips to Africa, for UNICEF, and Brazil, to open to a soccer academy, did not hurt his selection chances. "I'd done everything I could to make myself available, I worked hard for a month with Arsenal," Beckham said. "I did go to Sierra Leone and Brazil, but those trips were only four days long and for the rest of the month I was training very hard.
{{/usCountry}}"There are a lot of Premiership players who have played 15 games in the last two months and I haven't played a game since December." Beckham said his recent trips to Africa, for UNICEF, and Brazil, to open to a soccer academy, did not hurt his selection chances. "I'd done everything I could to make myself available, I worked hard for a month with Arsenal," Beckham said. "I did go to Sierra Leone and Brazil, but those trips were only four days long and for the rest of the month I was training very hard.
{{/usCountry}}"It's simply down to not playing any games, the manager explained that, and I wish him and the rest of the players good luck for the first game. I think he's a great appointment and he's going to be good for the English game."London