David Beckham's England future uncertain under Fabio Capello

England's new coach, Fabio Capello, was noncommittal Monday about whether David Beckham has a future with the national team.

Capello, who dropped then reinstated Beckham at Real Madrid, praised the 32-year-old English midfielder but said he hadn't decided whether to include him in the England squad.

"I had a thorny relationship with David at Madrid but he showed himself to be a great player and a great man," the Italian said at his introductory news conference.

Capello dropped Beckham from the Real Madrid squad last season after he announced his move to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. But Beckham was later reinstated and played a key role in Madrid's drive to the Spanish league title.

"I think Beckham, when he sets himself something, he will achieve it," Capello said. "But I will have to make choices. I believe that Beckham is an important player for England and I will take him in serious consideration. However, there's still a month to go before the first game, so there's still time."

England, which failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship, plays a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on Feb. 6.

Beckham, who has made 99 appearances for England, is desperate to reach the 100 mark and play in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Beckham relinquished the England captaincy after the 2006 World Cup. When Steve McClaren became England coach, his first move was to drop Beckham, but he brought him back in May when the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign was faltering.

Beckham, the only player in England's squad who has worked with Capello, got his 99th cap when he came on as a second-half substitute in the 3-2 loss to Croatia on Nov. 21. That defeat cost England a place in the Euro 2008 tournament and led to McClaren's firing.