Source: Eurosport
Beckham grateful for record chance
AC Milan midfielder David Beckham revealed he never expected to get the chance to become an England record breaker.The former Three Lions skipper is set to become the most capped outfield player of all-time on Saturday by winning a 109th cap in the friendly against Slovakia, overtaking Bobby Moore's long-standing mark.It is a remarkable achievement by any standard but all the more astonishing given that just over two years ago, it appeared Beckham's career as a top-level performer was finished.Jettisoned for his country by Steve McClaren, dropped by the then Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello, little wonder Beckham was looking to the bright lights of Los Angeles and a lucrative offer to join the Galaxy.Little wonder either that Beckham was so desperate to join AC Milan now his career has turned full circle and he is in to better Peter Shilton's all-time best mark of 125 should he stay fit up to, and throughout, next year's World Cup.It is a position Beckham refuses to take for granted. He has not forgotten how low he felt as he contemplated a life without being able to wear that distinctive white shirt again."I didn't think it would happen," he reflected."I didn't believe I would play for England once I was taken out of the team. I just assumed that I would never play for my country again."It is the first time Beckham has made the admission, offering an obvious reason why he ended up at LA Galaxy in a deal he spent huge amounts of time trying to 'adjust' after performing superbly during what was initially a short-term loan at AC Milan.McClaren could justify his decision on the basis of having a successful start to an ultimately ill-fated tenure, Capello did so because with so much cash on offer in Major League Soccer, the player's attention would be permanently."When I was left out by Steve McClaren and the team were doing so well, I just allowed myself to be proud of the number of caps I had."As a young boy, all I dreamed of was playing at Wembley and, one day, playing for my country, even if it was just the once."It was only when I got to 50 that I thought about reaching 100. But I definitely felt I would end up on 94."Bizarrely, as Shaun Wright-Phillips looks certain to miss out with an ankle problem that has prevented him training all week, Beckham could be in Capello's first XI on Saturday, which would represent another milestone as it would be the 100th match he has started for the Three Lions."It would be special but I am just happy to be in the squad," he said, with a trademark smile."If I get to 109 caps, it doesn't matter whether it comes as a starter or substitute, it is more important that I am here with the players and here with the squad."I am more interested in getting the team to the World Cup than anything else."Beckham's sheer joy at playing for England still shines through, even as he approaches his 34th birthday.Should he remain part of the journey all the way to South Africa, and the way his loan deal has been structured with AC Milan, he should, it would allow him to join an elite group who have appeared in four World Cup Finals.In that decade, Beckham has answered enough questions about whether England can emulate the team of 1966 to avoid them with ease.He knows the general perception across the globe is that under Glenn Hoddle and Sven-Goran Eriksson, England have under-performed on the biggest stage.Given that period includes two losing quarter-finals, it means the Three Lions had the players to do better.And, to a man who should know, it appears they still have."This is one of[LNB]
