Stuart Pearce, speaking about his decision to exclude David Beckham from Team GB in the 2012 Olympics, described it as one of the toughest moments in his career. He stated that ultimately, it came down to a simple evaluation of Beckham's current form, concluding he did not believe Beckham was good enough for the squad. Pearce revealed that his responsibility was to pick the strongest team possible, and he felt his decision to leave Beckham out was in the best interest of the nation.