England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:Wembley Stadium
• Capacity:90,000

Woodgate backs Becks

18 Oct 2006 - 16:27:59

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Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate thinks Steve McClaren should not have dropped former captain David Beckham from the England team.

Beckham resigned as captain after England's quarter-final exit to Portugal at this summer's World Cup finals, and has not been picked by McClaren since.

The former Middlesbrough boss has been criticised following his side's recent insipid displays in the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia with calls for Beckham's recall intensifying.

Woodgate, who is currently on loan at the Riverside Stadium from Real Madrid, told BBC Radio Five Live: "David Beckham is an exceptional player, I still think he is.

"Look at the World Cup, I think we scored five (goals) and he set up three and scored one - that's not a bad ratio.

"Steve McClaren has his own thoughts and everyone is entitled to their opinion and how they run the team but in my opinion I think he is still good enough to play for England."

When asked if he felt the England boss had made a mistake, he replied: "In my opinion, yes."