Will England coach Fabio Capello call on Beckham in the future?
David Beckham lingered on the turf at the Stade de France at the final whistle - all requests for the shirt specifically tailored for his 100th England cap politely rejected.
Beckham was savouring the emotions and deservedly so. Even the former England captain's harshest critics would have been wrong to pour cold water on his landmark moment.
The respect he is afforded around the world was demonstrated in the 63rd minute in Paris when Fabio Capello removed him from the action to introduce the man many see as his natural successor, Blackburn's David Bentley.
A crowd that had heaped scorn on England throughout the game rose in unison to applaud Beckham as he took his leave.
The question for England coach Fabio Capello is whether Beckham's poignant leaving of the stage in Paris is goodbye, or merely au revoir.
Beckham, sadly, did not make an irresistible case for inclusion in Capello's next squad and there were signs that the ageing process is finally catching up with his game.
He was too often to be found behind Wes Brown while the Manchester United defender surged forward, usually to little or no effect. Beckham was rarely seen in the area near the byeline where what remains his finest quality - his delivery - can be used to best effect.
Beckham still pinged those superb trademark passes and can be a threat at set-pieces, but his game has become one that is played from deep and this may not sit easily with Capello's new outlook.
The final third was too often foreign territory for Beckham, as it was to many of his colleagues, and it is clear his most athletic days are now gone.
If England are to play the agile and nimble game required to flourish at the highest level, then it could be that Beckham was making his last hurrah in Paris.
Capello was positive enough about Beckham, but he must now decide whether Beckham has the game to take England forward towards 2010, or whether young legs and talent for the future is what is required.
The Italian did not select Beckham to do him a favour. Capello does not do sentiment and he will have wanted to watch him at close quarters against serious opposition.
If he does survive, and there must be doubts, Beckham is a better bet as a cameo substitute rather than a starter. England's team needs pace more than ever and this has never been at the top of his list of qualities.
This is the inevitable downside as any player moves towards the end of their shelf life in international football. In Beckham's case, it has been a career that does him huge personal credit.
Beckham received a standing ovation in Paris as he left the pitch
If this was the end of England's Beckham era, he should go wth grateful thanks, even from those of us who felt it was right to call time on him after the 2006 World Cup and have often felt the cult of his celebrity cast too much of a shadow.
Beckham, as he has done throughout his career, showed tremendous professionalism to win back his place and in massive measure has been a force for good in the game, but the evidence of Paris suggests the Indian summer is drawing to a close.
He rightly wanted to celebrate and savour the night when he joined Bobby Moore, Peter Shilton, Billy Wright and Sir Bobby Charlton in England's exclusive 100 Club and France allowed him that.
Beckham has earned his place in that group, even though his achievements do not match World Cup winners Moore and Charlton, the longevity of Shilton and the history-making feats of Wright with England.
He disappointed at the big tournaments, through immaturity at the France '98 World Cup and injury four years later in Japan.
Beckham was never fully fit in Portugal for Euro 2004 and once again ended injured on the sidelines in Germany in 2006. These disappointments will always cast a shadow on his England CV.
This should be set against almost single-handedly taking England to Japan and scoring the winning penalty against Argentina in that tournament.
Beckham is faultlessly polite, professional and dignified in his dealings with the media, and for someone occasionally accused of too many showbiz trappings, no-one wore the captain's armband with greater pride.
He was the same in the Stade de France on Wednesday. The smile of pleasure at winning 100 caps looked like it would have to be surgically removed at some later date.
But age is showing in his game now and it appears Father Time is ready to tap him on the shoulder.
Beckham may well make another Capello squad but it will surely only be as a member of the supporting cast as opposed to top of the bill.
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