Drop Beckham, Robson urges Capello

Bobby Robson says England coach Fabio Capello must make a stand and drop David Beckham from his starting line-up ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.

With England due to face Andorra on September 6 ahead of a tough meeting with Euro 2008 qualifier nemeses Croatia former England boss Robson says Capello must be more decisive.

“Fabio is meant to lead but the only place we’ve gone so far is round in circles,” Robson said in his Mail on Sunday column.

“It is time for the real Capello to stand up and start dictating to the players and the public exactly what he wants. Then he’ll find people will get behind him.”

Sir Bobby believes there is now little room for Beckham if England, who last week struggled to draw with the Czech Republic in a Wembley friendly, are to unearth a coherent system.

“It means picking vibrant wide players rather than starting with David Beckham when he can’t get forward as he used to. It means banging Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard’s heads together and getting them to play as a unit. Because they can,” Robson insisted.

Only the qualifying group winners automatically qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

That means the Croatians, who did the double over England in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, this time have to be sent packing.

Robson says Capello should have been more decisive in picking his skipper for the Czech encounter.

“The weeks of dithering about who should be England captain summed it up for me. I’m sure the intention was to give everyone a fair chance, but it made him look weak and indecisive.

“Steve McClaren could have told him two years ago that John Terry was the best man for the job.”