As Franck Ribery skipped past the former Three Lions captain in Paris, all the player who had just become the fifth Englishman to claim a 100th cap could do to halt his opponent was tug on the Frenchman's shirt.

The yellow card that followed was accepted with the minimum of protest, suggesting even Beckham knows deep down that age – and playing in a glorified pub league – have caught up with him.

Beckham was not on his own in looking distinctly second class compared to a France side missing a host of top stars including Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Karim Benzema and Bacary Sagna. It would not, therefore, be fair to single out the LA Galaxy midfielder's performance for criticism with few, if any, England players emerging with any credit.

But, in terms of the future, there was no getting away from the fact that he is no longer the dynamic force that once drove his country forward. For much of the first half, it seemed Wes Brown was playing on the right side of midfield rather than his former club-mate from Old Trafford.

There was one pass of pure quality, a couple of trademark crosses, but not a lot else during the 63 minutes Beckham spent on the field before being substituted to a rapturous reception.

The question now is: what next for England's newest centurion?

His inclusion in the starting line-up had been a major surprise, leading some to deduce that Beckham may have a bigger role than first thought under Fabio Capello. His 100th cap had been expected to come against the USA at Wembley on May 28, so, the suggestion goes, surely that means the Italian sees a future for the 32-year-old in international football?

Let's hope not.

Far preferable would be that Capello has, in fact, been very clever during the past week by exposing Beckham to an hour against a hungry French side hoping to repeat their Euro 2000 success this summer as opposed to a USA outfit whose visit to Wembley is expected to be little more than an exhibition game.

Not only will the England players be looking forward to their summer break, the Americans' next truly competitive action will be in the 2010 World Cup finals. What would Capello learn about anyone under such conditions, never mind a 33-year-old whose last appearance in a truly competitive league had come 12 months earlier with Real Madrid?

Far easier, surely, to ask Beckham to match the pace and power of France, knowing he would more than likely be unable to rise to the challenge. Now, if Capello wants to quietly drop the most famous footballer in the world come the Autumn ahead of England's World Cup qualifiers, he can do so with the minimum of fuss by being able to point to the shortcomings that were exposed on a wet Wednesday night in Paris.