The game will be Steve McClaren's first as England coach, and the former Middlesbrough man opted not to be counting on the 31-year-old winger in the near future.

"At this present moment I am looking to take this team in a different direction, that is why I decided not to pick David Beckham," McClaren told Sky Sports Network on Friday.

Taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson who led the England team for almost six years, McClaren is looking to introduce a number of new faces as well as a new way of playing to the England outfit.

"I told David that I was looking to change things and take on a new plan, and that he wasn’t included within that."

The England boss had time to praise the Real Madrid for his previous efforts with the team, refusing to rule out a possible re-call to Beckham if he regains his top form.

"I have great respect for David, He was a fantastic captain for England, a great player, and still is a great player."

"He took the news very well, and I got the reaction I wanted and that he'd continue to fight for his place and I'll never close the door on that," McClaren added.

McClaren included a number of young players like Kieran Richardson and Tottenham's Michael Dawson, also Manchester United's Wes Brown and Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Philips were named for the Greece game on August 16th in Old Trafford.

And the full England squad is:

Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Chris Kirkland (Liverpool), Ben Foster (Manchester United).

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand, Wesley Brown, Gary Neville (Manchester United), P Neville (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Luke Young (Charlton).

Midfielders: Stuart Downing (Middlesbrough), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), (Tottenham), Frank Lampard, Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Kieran Richardson (Manchester United).

Strikers: Dean Ashton (West Ham), Daren Bent (Charlton), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)