Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard attends a press conference in Hong Kong Monday, July 23, 2007. England's Liverpool, Portsmouth and Fulham are joining Hong Kong's South China play in the Asia Trophy tournament in Hong Kong on July 24 and 27. Pic: Vincent Yu. Circa July 2007. © AP Photo

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David Beckham and Steven Gerrard are near certainties, in spite of not being picked to play against Brazil on Saturday, but Michael Owen was again snubbed and his chances of reaching the finals as a player seem doomed.

Gerrard has been omitted because Fabio Capello is eager to appease his club, and Beckham will not play because his club is involved in a final.

Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy beat Chivas USA at the weekend to reach the Western Conference final.

He was named to the England squad with the proviso that he be spared international duty if Galaxy beat Chivas.

The MLS Western Conference final will be played on Saturday.

However, Beckham remains firmly in Capello's plans after securing another loan stint at Milan from January.

Gerrard was left out by Capello to avoid a row with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.