While the globetrotting Los Angeles Galaxy spanned the planet on their November barnstorming tour, something has become very apparent: no one would care about the Galaxy if it weren't for David Beckham.

Okay, those of you who are snickering right now thinking 'well, duh', it's obvious that Beckham can sell jerseys and put butts in the seats. Here's another thing to ponder: the Galaxy must be excited about having Beckham play most of next season without any national team commitments.

Indeed, the best way for that to ever happen was for England to suddenly crash out of next summer's Euro 2008 Championship so that Beckham could play in MLS in June when he would have otherwise be with his national team in Austria and Switzerland.

And that's exactly what happened.

England's loss to Croatia in their crucial November 21st Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley was truly a great moment for MLS. After the defeat, I couldn't help but think that it was an awful shame that such a marquee tournament would have to miss out on having England participate. Then it hit me: this is great for the Galaxy and the league.

Though they'd never admit it publicly, the MLS suits in New York and the Galaxy's front office, including general manager Alexi Lalas, must have been ecstatic with England's 3-2 loss.

The elimination means Beckham, the league's most recognized player, won't be away for a month next summer in the midst of the MLS season and they can have more fans at games, like we saw at Giants Stadium when the Galaxy played the New York Red Bulls.

Certainly, most soccer fans in this country will tune in to watch Euro 2008 beamed into their living rooms and favorite watering holes, but their attentions may be, in a small way, interrupted domestically by Beckham and the Galaxy.

Let's not forget, nearly a year ago Beckham (who had been dropped by both England and Real Madrid) signed with the Galaxy for $250 million in salary and bonuses over a five-year period - and not because he wanted to be a superstar, he told us. Beckham said he wanted to make a difference. Remember?

Well, now he can.

Beckham, with the Hollywood good looks and a celebrity wife to boot, can finally put his proverbial money where his mouth is and drop this whole nonsense of wanting to represent his country. The English may have invented the modern game and boast to having the best league in the world, but they haven't won anything since hoisting the World Cup trophy back in 1966.

Beckham can't change that. The sooner he realizes it, the better it will be for MLS.

After all, Beckham started the Croatia game on the bench and vowed afterwards that he and the team would have to 'pick themselves up' - easier said then done.

Beckham also said that he has no plans to retire from the national team. The Galaxy has always publicly said they were okay with Beckham traveling to play for England. But now Croatia has done what Beckham himself and the Galaxy were never able to do: force him to focus on his club commitments.

Behind closed doors, some in the Galaxy organization had whined to me about Beckham's crisscrossing the globe – at times injured - in an effort to cram in as many games into a week as possible.

This past season may have been a bust (injuries limited Beckham to just 252 minutes over five MLS games), but now he can proceed with his mission as a soccer ambassador, while at the same time help to start turning MLS into an elite league on par with the ones in Europe.

Even those of you who hate soccer - and I know you're out there - have to admit that Beckham's star power transcends that of most any baseball or basketball player I can think of.

With England out of Euro 2008, Beckham and the circus that follows him, can finally go ahead uninterrupted. I'm sure the league and Galaxy are thrilled about it. I am.