Beckham, Van Nistelrooy Dropped from Squads

The changing of the guard is officially taking place with a pair of international mainstays not being called up for next week’s slate of international friendlies.

New England boss Steve McClaren has chosen not to name David Beckham to the squad that will play Greece on August 16. Beckham, who has captained the Three Lions for years, was passed over, as were youngster Theo Walcott and World Cup goalkeeper David James.

Meanwhile, Dutch coach Marco van Basten dropped striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and midfielder Mark van Bommel from his country’s friendly against Ireland next week.

Here are the players called up for England and Netherlands:

Netherlands
Goalkeepers: Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United)

Defenders: Urby Emanuelson (Ajax Amsterdam), John Heitinga (Ajax Amsterdam), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven)

Midfielders: Wesley Sneijder (Ajax Amsterdam), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Nigel de Jong (SV Hamburg), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg SV), Denny Landzaat (Wigan Athletic)

Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax Amsterdam), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea) , Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven)

England

Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Chris Kirkland (Wigan), Ben Foster (Watford)

Defenders: Gary Neville (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Phil Neville (Everton), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), John Terry (Chelsea, CAPTAIN), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Luke Young (Charlton), Michael Dawson (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich/GER), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Kieron Richardson (Manchester United), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Darren Bent (Charlton), Dean Ashton (West Ham)