Beckham 'Doubtful' For United Match

Ankle Still Bothers Galaxy's Superstar

David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy arrived in Washington yesterday to prepare for tomorrow night's match against D.C. United at sold-out RFK Stadium, but whether the ailing English superstar will actually play remains uncertain.

After flying in from Toronto on a charter, Beckham and his teammates headed to the RFK training grounds for a 45-minute workout in the searing heat. The session was closed to reporters and the public.

"David did participate in light training for the first time [since joining the Galaxy], but is still doubtful for Thursday," club spokesman Patrick Donnelly said.

Beckham sprained his left ankle June 6 while playing for England's national team against Estonia in a European Championship qualifier, then suffered ligament damage when he returned to play for Spanish club Real Madrid.

Despite not practicing because of the injury, he made his Galaxy debut July 21 by playing 16 minutes in an exhibition against English club Chelsea. He has not trained intensively or appeared in a match since. Beckham sat out three SuperLiga matches as well as Sunday's MLS game at Toronto, where he watched from the bench in a suit and tie.

Beckham takes his famous free kicks with his right foot, but he needs his left to absorb weight and provide balance. There are also the general demands of the game that require a healthy ankle.

Over the weekend, Beckham said he would probably need another seven to 10 days before he would be ready to start, all but ending any hope of him receiving his first MLS starting assignment in Washington.

"It needs to be right," Beckham said a news conference before the Toronto match. "There's no point in me coming back and playing in a game -- when people are expecting me to play at a high level like I can and I do -- and do not perform."

Although a second-half appearance tomorrow remains possible, United players doubt they will see much, if any, of Beckham.

"I don't know how you can wear a suit to a game a couple days prior and then be expected to play," defender Bobby Boswell said. "We'll prepare accordingly and, if he does get in, we'll do our best to do the things we normally do."

The location of tomorrow's match might boost Beckham's chances of making an appearance. RFK has a grass playing surface, which is easier on the legs than the artificial turf that the Galaxy played on in Toronto and will confront this weekend at New England.

"I'm sure he's been cautious about what surface he's playing on," United Coach Tom Soehn said. "It's always hard to come back on turf."

From a competitive standpoint, United would not mind seeing Beckham on the bench. But midfielder Ben Olsen said he empathizes with Beckham, whose absences have generated nearly as much attention as his glittery unveiling at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., last month.

"I feel awful for him," Olsen said. "As a player, you relate to him. He understands what is riding on this and that eyes are on him. For him to be sitting there must be pretty painful."

This would not be the first time United faced a team featuring Beckham. Last summer, while Beckham was still with Real Madrid, United faced the European giants in a friendly at Qwest Field in Seattle and earned a 1-1 tie.

Like that game, tomorrow's match will be played before a capacity crowd. With approximately 45,000 expected, including dozens of VIPs and diplomats, as well as England Manager Steve McClaren, United will welcome the largest regular season crowd for a game that was not part of a U.S. national team doubleheader.

United drew its biggest numbers -- 50,000-plus for the 1997 MLS Cup and doubleheaders in 2000 and 2001 -- before the stadium was reconfigured for baseball in 2005, which eliminated more than 10,000 seats.

"This is an easy game to get motivated for, for so many reasons -- the crowd, national TV, you name it," Olsen said. "It's going to be a great atmosphere, a great show, and we're all very excited."

United Notes: Soehn is cautiously optimistic that Jaime Moreno (back spasms) and playmaker Christian Gomez (bruised quadriceps) will be available. . . . Forward Luciano Emilio, who scored twice Sunday at New England, was named MLS player of the week.