SO it’s come in number seven – your time is up. That was the message relayed by national coach Fabio Capello to national treasure David Beckham.

In brusque fashion, the boy from Leystonstone has had his 115-cap England career curtailed.

In what was almost a throwaway line from Signor Capello, he declared the 35-year-old Beckham was now “too old” to be considered for competitive tournament play. But what’s to argue with that?

So no Euro Championships 2012 for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger, still contracted to LA Galaxy and an AC Milan bit-part player.

It’s not quite final curtain down time for the man who has effectively occupied the number seven three-lioned shirt for more than a decade. Capello added Beckham may be offered a final farewell game, ostensibly in England’s next friendly against France.

Beckham has since pooh-poohed the idea, declaring how he does not consider himself in international exile.

My bet is that if a game is offered the Beckham brandwagon will again thunder on the well-oiled wheels of Becks-ballyhoo for at least one more time.

Can you imagine the build-up to that finale for the most tattooed England number seven? The flashbulbs would alone generate enough power to light up a city airport for a year.

The nagging question for me is does Beckham actually deserve such a hyped-up swansong? After all, he was feted on to the field for his 100th cap.

I don’t remember previous national football luminaries such as the Sir Tom Finney, the late Sir Stanley Matthews and Bobby Moore, Sir Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst, Kevin Keegan, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer being accorded farewell honours.

When their England days were over – usually called by the then manager in charge, or, self-imposed departures – then it was over, end of, farewell, and turn the stadium lights off when you sign off.

But it’s not exactly finito just yet for Beckham. The brand, which has straddled the footballing world over the last seven years or more like his stance over a free-kick, is destined to get another shot in the arm.

Yet I would contend that all the above served England with far more distinction and indeed success than Beckham.

He may be second only to goalkeeper Peter Shilton as the highest possessor of England caps, but the last few years’ awards have been little more than token offerings. I mean getting a cap for coming on for the last few minutes against no-mark nations does not match the achievement of any of the aforementioned ex-England players. That’s like handing caps out like so many Smarties to an over-indulged kid.

And let’s be honest, how many of those 115 caps have been draped in stirring performances?

Dazzling displays by Beckham in national colours can be counted on one hand. There’s Greece and that nation-rocking free-kick winner in 2001, the 5-1 triumph over Germany in Munich the same year, and...surely there’s more?

Just as lodged in the cranium are less momentous memories of Beckham’s 1998 petulance that got him sent off against Argentina and the infamous hurdling out of a tackle in Japan 2002 that led to Brazil’s equaliser in the World Cup quarter-final.

Be sure, however, that any projected final flourish against France will not be the last of Beckham.

As an icon of the game his standing is unparalleled and the FA have booked him as an ambassador for 2018 World Cup bid.

It would be foolhardy too to rule him out of not appearing, especially in a playing capacity, for GB in the 2012 Olympics.

For someone who ended the World Cup of just over five weeks ago effectively acting as a suited and booted backroom member and part-time bouncer – remember it was he who removed the fan who somehow got into the England dressing-room after the opening draw against the USA – there remains a shed load of mileage.

It’s amazing what a great right foot, high-profile marriage, and obsession with celebrity can yield.