Soccer - International Update:David Beckham has pulled out of the England squad to face Brazil on Saturday after the midfielder's LA Galaxy club reached the MLS Western Conference final yesterday.
Beckham helped Galaxy to a 1-0 semi-final second leg win over Chivas USA to win the tie 3-2 on aggregate and reach the final against Houston Dynamo, which is scheduled for Friday.
Beckham, though, was forced out of the match after 78 minutes after taking a knock to his lower back, and watched the remainder of the action with an ice-pack on the injury.
England manager Fabio Capello included Beckham in the 24-man squad for the friendly in Qatar with the condition that he would withdraw if Galaxy qualified for the final.
In Scotland Craig Gordon has been ruled out of George Burley’s squad for Saturday’s friendly against Wales in Cardiff.
The Sunderland goalkeeper suffered a fractured arm in a collision with Jermaine Defoe during Tottenham’s 2-0 win at White Hart Lane at the weekend.
Gordon, 26, had to be replaced by Marton Fulop midway through the second half of Saturday’s match.
Rangers defender Steven Whittaker is a doubt after he was taken off during the 2-1 win over St Mirren with a hamstring complaint.
A Scottish Football Association spokesperson said: “Craig is obviously out but we are still waiting on news on Steven Whittaker.
“The players are not due to meet up until tomorrow morning at Glasgow airport so we will have a better idea then.”
