LONDON (AFP) - Former England captain David Beckham said there was a
possibility he may never play for his country again.
The high-profile Real Madrid midfielder, who had a poor World Cup earlier
this summer and then decided to give up the captain's armband, added he would be
trying to get back into the reckoning.
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England midfielder and former captain David
Beckham gives the thumbs up prior to the World Cup 2006 quarter final
between England and Portugal at Gelsenkirchen stadium, Germany, in July
2006. Beckham said there was a possibility he may never play for his
country again. [AFP]
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Beckham, 31, who was left out of the first England squad selected by Steve
McClaren, told BBC radio Monday: "When I've had knocks before I've always wanted
to prove people wrong, and I want to do that again.
"If I never play for England again then I've played 94 times and captained
England for six years and have had an amazing time playing for England. I don't
want it to end, I want it to carry on. If I was a betting man I wouldn't bet on
me playing again - but who knows?"
Despite not being part of the McClaren era, Beckham insists there are grounds
for optimism under the new regime.
Speaking to BBC Radio One, the Real Madrid midfielder said: "The whole change
- the new manager and set-up - the lads have adapted well and they've got a
great captain in John Terry. I've got so much respect for him, he's a young lad
but he's captained Chelsea and now England.
"There are so many other great players in the team, so I think the future is
good."
McClaren, who coached Beckham at Manchester United before the midfielder
moved to Real Madrid, told Beckham he was a 'casualty' of the changes being
implemented following Sven-Goran Eriksson's reign.
Beckham described the day he left out of the squad: "It was out of the blue,
I had a few phone calls before from him asking about my fitness, I thought
everything was good.
"He came on the phone and said 'you've had an amazing time as an England
player and captain, I want to move forward'. He said there will be casualties on
the way and that 'you are one of the casualties'. It surprised me and I'm
gutted.
"At the end of the day he has a decision to make, when I got off the phone I
was angry and disappointed but I want to play again."
Beckham added: "You need things like that to spur you on and prove people
wrong. He (McClaren) came to United in 1999, we won the treble that year, he's a
good coach and I've sure he'll be a good coach for England."
