David Beckham is set to inch closer towards his dream to play for Great Britain in 2012 London Olympics, as he looks looks likely to make it to the next stage of the selection process for Stuart Pearce’s GB squad.

Craig Bellamy has already got his place confirmed in the squad for London 2012 and Beckham is expected to fill the second of the three places for over-age players - with Ryan Giggs increasingly expected to complete the trio.

Stuart Pearce will cut down the squad to 18 on July 6, when only three of the players included will be over-23. After helping London win the bid for the Olympic Games and playing a vital ambassadorial role for the event ever since, Beckham is likely to survive that final cut too.

Beckham’s inclusion may raise eyebrows among critics, who believe his inclusion is due to commercial and ticketing considerations rather than what he will offer on the pitch. However, Beckham has rubbished the suggestion as “disrespectful”, insisting that he only wants to be in team GB if he makes the team on merit.

“Whenever I have been asked about shirt sales or filling stadiums it has always felt it is a bit disrespectful. Throughout my career I have been pretty successful, I’ve played for some pretty big teams, represented my country quite a few times, and played for managers without sentiment”, said Beckham.

Team GB will play a friendly against Brazil at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium on July 20 before taking on Senegal, UAE and Uruguay in Group A at the Games.

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