David Beckham Probably Won’t Play Toronto FC On Sunday
Posted August 2, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
David Beckham, soccer’s international darling, is coming to Toronto . Oh, and so are the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Beckham will be taking to the BMO field on Saturday for practice, but there is no guarantee he will play against Toronto FC on Sunday, or for how long if he does. But he’ll be at a Beckham news conference at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday.
A lingering ankle injury has meant only 12 minutes of play for Beckham since he signed with the Galaxy, in a substitute during a 1-0 friendly loss to Chelsea on July 21. He has missed three non-league games since then and has hardly trained.
Regardless, Sunday’s game, like every other Toronto FC home game to date, has sold out all 20,000-plus seats, including an extra 500 seats that were inserted at field level – although they may have to duck stray balls.
Beckham’s ankle is the least of Toronto ‘s injury problems. Toronto ‘s wounded include strikers Danny Dichio (back, hip flexor) and Jeff Cunningham (abductor). Midfielder Ronnie O’Brien (knee), defenders Brennan (ribs), Andrew Boyens (concussion) and Marvell Wynne (hamstring) and goalkeeper Greg Sutton (concussion).
All but Brennan will be missing the game on Sunday and for him to play will be a game-time decision.
27-year-old Kenny Stamatopoulos is coming from Norway as a loaner goaltender on Thursday. The 6′ Stamatopoulos was born in Greece but came to Canada at 10 months and eventually played for the Scarborough Azzurri Blues.
Toronto FC is 5-9-4 in the Eastern Division and will be playing the 3-5-4 Galaxy after a big 3-0 loss to Chicago .
As for whether Beckham will be playing on Sunday, that’s anyone’s guess. But Toronto co-captain Jim Brennan says his guess will be ‘no’.
“Everybody’s looking forward to this one,” says Brennan. “It’s unfortunate Beckham’s not going to be playing because I think a lot of people have been looking forward to that.”
Toronto FC officials have stated that regardless of whether Beckham plays or not, tickets are non-refundable.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
