David Beckham celebrates after scoring at the
World Cup.
Sven-Goran Eriksson believes England`s World Cup plans were
wrecked because players were jealous of the status of David Beckham.
That is the view of Eriksson`s friend and leading agent Pini Zahavi, who
has claimed the Swede has told him 'the whole story' behind England's
disappointing campaign in Germany last summer.
Beckham resigned as captain after the World Cup and has been left out
of England squads since by new boss Steve McClaren.
Zahavi said: 'There was a big problem with jealously at the World Cup
- something no-one has ever talked about.
'A lot of people didn't like Beckham's position within the team. It was
one of the biggest things that hurt England.
'A lot of players didn't like the `super player' Beckham. They didn't
like his status in the team.
'If Sven told the whole story of what went on in Germany - and I know
the whole story because I have talked to him a lot - people would understand
what happened.
'One of the main problems was Sven had too much respect for several players.
If you look at it professionally, Beckham shouldn't have played at certain
times. But Sven put him in anyway.
'Now, at least, all the players are equal under McClaren.'
Zahavi also claimed Eriksson knows he made a mistake in not picking another
striker in his squad. He chose to take teenager Theo Walcott and did not
have enough cover when Michael Owen was injured.
He added: 'England should have had one more forward at the World Cup because
when Michael Owen got injured there was no one to replace him. I think
looking back Eriksson knows that was a mistake.'
Zahavi believes McClaren must drop Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard because
they cannot play successfully in the same team.
He added: 'Lampard and Gerrard can't play together. It's a fact. Lampard
can't shoot all the time in the national team like he does at Chelsea.
In an interview with Hebrew language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Zahavi
also claimed England cannot afford to lose in Tel Aviv tomorrow following
some disappointing recent results in their Euro 2008 qualifiers.
He said: 'If England fail in Israel it will cause an earthquake in football.
'People say McClaren will stay if England lose but, in my opinion, they
will drink his blood.
'They'll finish him once and for all. For England and McClaren it is a
case of `To be or not to be'.'
,
March 23, 2007.
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