David Beckham has no fears about England coming unstuck in Israel this
week and suffering disaster in the European Championship qualifier.
The former England captain, whose hopes of an international recall were
dashed by a knee injury, believes the world-class players in Steve McClaren's
squad will shine through.
England must win against Israel and then Andorra next week otherwise there
is a real possibility of losing out to Croatia and Russia for the two
Group E qualifying places.
Beckham said: 'They will be fine, they have got too many good players
to not qualify.
'They have got a couple of tough games coming up but the players know
that, and the players will be fine with that.
'They have just got to be confident and there are a lot of confident lads
in that team - you saw that at the weekend with Wayne Rooney, who had
not scored for a while, and he goes and scores those goals.
'Andy Johnson scored the winner against Arsenal so they are fresh from
playing well for their clubs.
'I've spent a lot of time playing and training with these players and
they are some of the best players in the world.'
Beckham was speaking on a visit to a school in Bristol to launch a new
website for schools, www.thedavidbeckhamacademy.co.uk, to provide a free
online coaching guide for teachers and pupils.
The Real Madrid midfielder insisted he had not given up hope of persuading
McClaren to recall him to the squad - the England manager had been due
to watch him play in the Champions League against Bayern Munich before
the player's injury intervened.
Beckham added: 'Owen [Hargreaves] was playing in that game as well but
unfortunately I got injured the game before - and it wasn't meant to be.
'I have always said I will be available for my country and that still
stands.
'I'm not reconciled to not being part of the squad and it's always tough
when it comes to international week and I'm not involved but there have
been a few of those now so I'm becoming accustomed to spending time with
the family or doing different things.
'I've never been a great spectator even when I was a young kid. I hated
watching the games when I felt I could be playing. Of course I will watch
the England games though - I'll sit and watch them with the family.'
Beckham also paid tribute to his successor in Manchester United's No 7
shirt, Cristiano Ronaldo, for shrugging off the controversy after he was
involved in the sending off of Rooney during England's World Cup defeat
by Portugal.
'He's having a hell of season,' said Beckham. 'What he had to go through
at the end of last season was tough but he couldn't have been at a better
team and under a better manager.
'He's had the support of the fans and the club and, with that, you have
every chance of coming through those bad times and he has been pretty
incredible this year.'
,
March 19, 2007.
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
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