Beckham on Verge of 100th Cap As Capello Joins Clampdown on Bad Behaviour

Fabio Capello, who has recalled David Beckham to his 30-man squad for the friendly against France in Paris next week, wants his England team to show referees more respect in the wake of Ashley Cole's hounding of the referee Mike Riley at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Cole apologized yesterday to Riley after he was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Tottenham's Alan Hutton but the new England coach is supporting the FA's demand for more respect for referees. Capello will address the issue when his players meet to prepare for next Wednesday's friendly.

Capello has been persuaded that Beckham's form and fitness warrant his inclusion after his general manager, Franco Baldini, returned from Los Angeles Galaxy's pre-season friendly at Dallas satisfied about the 32-year-old. He has been joined by the uncapped David Wheater of Middlesbrough for the game at the Stade de France, with Theo Walcott and Gabriel Agbonlahor offering youth and pace.

Yet it is Beckham's involvement which will draw the focus for the high-profile friendly. The midfielder has been poised on 99 caps since the defeat by Croatia at Wembley last November, having been omitted on fitness grounds for the fixture against Switzerland last month. Capello has grown weary of the intrigue surrounding whether Beckham will follow Peter Shilton, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Billy Wright in accumulating 100 caps, and has preferred to settle the issue rather than wait until the United States visit Wembley on May 28, when it might have looked little more than a PR stunt.

"I always said that when David Beckham was fit, he could be in the squad," said Capello. "I have had good reports on him from Franco Baldini, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club. I know a lot about David Beckham and what he can offer the team."

It is unlikely that the midfielder will be omitted when the squad is reduced to 23 tomorrow, though it remains to be seen whether Wheater's rise to prominence will culminate in a first cap. The 21-year-old center-half was on loan at Darlington in League Two just 12 months ago.

England squad

Goalkeepers

James PortsmouthCarson Aston Villa Kirkland Wigan

Defenders

Bridge ChelseaA Cole ChelseaJohnson PortsmouthTerry ChelseaBrown Man UtdLescott EvertonFerdinand Man UtdWheater BoroWoodgate TottenhamUpson West Ham Utd

Midfielders

Barry Aston VillaYoung Aston VillaBentley BlackburnJ Cole ChelseaLampard Chelsea Wright-Phillips ChelseaBeckham Los Angeles GalaxyGerrard LiverpoolHargreaves Man UtdDowning BoroJenas Tottenham

Strikers

Walcott ArsenalAgbonlahor Aston VillaCrouch LiverpoolRooney Man UtdOwen NewcastleDefoe Portsmouth