Beckham's perfect sendoff and EPL season in review

	David Beckham will make his first return to England's national team since quitting as captain following last summer's World Cup. FotoSports/WireImage.com
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David Beckham's return to the English national team for Friday's game against Brazil and next Wednesday's vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia has dominated the headlines this week. The setting couldn't be more fitting: The return of the glamour boy of English football in a glamour friendly against Brazil at the new Wembley Stadium.

Beckham, with a point to prove against both the coach who had doubted he could still make the grade internationally, and the public who may be thinking he's moving to Major League Soccer for non-footballing reasons. Beckham's p.r. advisors would surely charge millions to engineer such a scenario.

When he picked his first squad last August, England boss Steve McClaren trumpeted in his new regime with the dropping of Goldenballs, a thinly veiled attempt to show that he wasn't afraid of making difficult decisions. The U-turre-selectingcting him is a serious gamble for the much-maligned national-team coach.

Although Beckham's form has been stellar of late for Real Madrid, you do get the feeling that McClaren has re-selected him because of media and fan pressure, and to escape further haranguing from the masses.

McClaren's plight hasn't been helped by a number of absentees in his squad for the two games, particularly in attack and defense. With Wayne Rooney suspended, Michael Owen -- severely lacking in match practice -- leads the line. In the fullback positions, injuries to Gary Neville, Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge and Micah Richards mean a debut for Reading's unsung left back Nicky Shorey, and center back Wes Brown forced out of position at right back.

The clubbing scene

In the Champions League final in Athens last week AC Milan got revenge for Istanbul 2005, claiming the European Cup with a 2-1 victory. The Liverpool players looked forlorn at the end of a game which they controlled for large parts, and were unlucky to end up losing.

Going a goal down just before halftime was a sucker punch for the Reds. Pippo Inzaghi doubled his tally in the 82nd minute before a late consolation for Liverpool from Dirk Kuyt. It was the Reds' patent lack of a killer instinct in front of the goal that must be the main focus of Rafa Benítez's transfer activity this summer.

Benítez spoke in a determined mood at the end of the game, saying, "We must spend big and spend now." Armed with new Liverpool American owners Tom Hicks' and George Gillett's sizeable war chest, that shouldn't be a problem.

Like the Champions League final, the FA Cup final was also a tear-jerker. This time, the emotion was not the injustice of Liverpool's defeat, but of body-numbing boredom that made one's halftime trip to bleed the pipes quite a highlight. Having turned over to watch worm racing on Channel 876 long before the final whistle, we can only tell you, thanks to scurrilous hearsay, that Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 thanks to a Didier Drogba goal late in extra time.