Buoyant Beckham lifts the Rooney blues
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-01 09:45
MANCHESTER, England, May 31 -- Captain David Beckham is
predicting a bright World Cup future for England despite weeks of gloom over the
injury to striker Wayne Rooney.
Beckham, on outstanding form in England's 3-1 friendly win over Hungary on
Tuesday, believes the tactical changes triggered by Rooney's broken foot can be
made to work on the game's biggest stage.
Beckham supplied the cross for Steven Gerrard, deployed as a second striker
instead of a defensive midfielder, to open the scoring and laid on another for
John Terry's first goal for his country.
"It was an encouraging performance," he told reporters. "We have to have
options going into this World Cup.
"We have got players throughout the team that can score goals and all great
teams have got that.
"If we can take that into the World Cup and keep our confidence as high as it
is, then we will be all right."
As for himself, Beckham played down the inch-perfect crosses that had Hungary
in trouble -- with two other flighted passes nearly producing goals for Michael
Owen and midfielder Joe Cole.
"That's what I am there for," said the 31-year-old, whose 2002 World Cup was
hampered by his recovery from a similar metatarsal injury to Rooney's.
"Wingers are there to set up goals and supply crosses and luckily for me I
had a couple of chances and we scored from them.
FEELING GREAT
"Physically and mentally I feel great going into this World Cup. I am not
going into the competition, touch wood, with any injuries."
Gerrard, tried out as a replacement for Rooney, made it clear he could
shoulder the attacking burden when England start in Group B against Paraguay on
June 10.
|
