Beckham seeks more glory as milestone approaches

quarta-feira, 26 de março de 2008

By Mike Collett

PARIS (Reuters) - David Beckham, already the world’s most famous footballer, is expected to reach another career highlight on Wednesday by becoming only the fifth player to win 100 caps for England.

Beckham, who turns 33 in May, is back in Fabio Capello’s England squad after missing the Italian’s first match in charge against Switzerland last month.

Capello, Beckham’s former club manager at Real Madrid, said he did not select him then because he was not fit enough—a view Beckham agreed with.

Capello made it clear then he would not award Beckham a “sentimental” 100th game, and would pick him only on merit.

Not for the first time in his long career, Beckham has risen to a challenge and says that if he plays against France in Wednesday’s friendly it will be one of the greatest moments in an already glittering career.

He also hopes that his 100th cap will not be his last. He believes he can do a valuable job for England for at least another two years, until the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010 if England qualify, and he has no intention of quitting yet.

Beckham can still whip in a cross like a guided missile, he can still inspire his team mates when the going gets tough and, although he probably divides opinion among the public, he never ceases to be polite and charming when in the media’s glare.

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