He doesn't play, he doesn't coach, and chances are he won't vomit on the field like he did in the last World Cup. But he's on the bench. Why? Why is his presence important? Because his teamates, his compatriots, need him?
No. He's there because everybody wants him to be a perennial symbol of world football/soccer. There are still markets to be conquered, the U.S. market at the top of that list, and it's way past time to replace Pelé. Beckham is our man, Fifa must be saying, and the shirts and cleats people, as well as the players who dream of stretching their playing time in the MLS will agree.
Too bad he hasn't won a World Cup. He hasn't even been in a final. He hasn't even been in a semifinal. But hey, we'll dress him up, do his hair and sit him over there. Maybe it'll happen this time. If not, we'll think of something so that he can be there in 2014.
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