Beckham Deserves to End England Career on a High

Wednesday, 17th March 2010 at 12:10pm

David Beckham knows what it is like to be injured on the eve of a World Cup, suffering, as he did, a broken metatarsal - the curse of England internationals - in his foot before the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea.

Eight years ago, despite the injury, he knew he had a chance to represent his country and, although he wasn't fully fit, was still there to bury his demons of 1998 with the winning goal against Argentina; a memory that will live long in the hearts and minds of many an England supporter.

When Beckham pulled up against Chievo on Sunday, he knew his worst nightmare had come true and his dream of becoming the first Englishman to play in four World Cups had been cruelly stripped from him.

John Terry

While for some the thought of playing in four tournaments would be a quest for self-glory, the feeling with Beckham was he simply loved playing for England and was desperate to do his best every time he pulled on the shirt.

Not the most gifted of footballers, certainly not a player of Wayne Rooney's stature or to a lesser extent Steven Gerrard, Beckham has always defied his critics - can't dribble; has got no pace - time and time again and through sheer will and force of personality has dragged himself from the depths - the red card against Argentina in '98 and resigning the captaincy in 2006 - to win over all but his harshest critics.

Although past his best, he remains a role model on and off the pitch as well as an inspiration to so many, especially the younger members of Fabio Capello's squad and would have fully deserved his place on the plane.

Sadly it was not meant to be and if Beckham goes to the World Cup, it will be as a team figurehead rather than as a player.

But what does it mean for the 34-year-old Beckham? He will have turned 35 by the time the 2010 World Cup finishes and is unlikely to play again for another six months.

The likelihood is that he will never play for England again, given the fact that he will be 37 by the time Euro 2012 rolls around and there are very few outfield players who represent their country after the age of 35.

If this proves to be the case, Beckham's last England call up will have been in the home friendly with Egypt at Wembley earlier this month where he was an unused substitute, hardly a fitting end for England's most capped outfield player.

The World Cup would have been a fitting finale for one of English football's favourite sons and if Beckham is unlikely to feature for the three lions again, it would be good if the FA could arrange a testimonial for him so he gets the send off he deserves.

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