DAVID Beckham has revealed
the low point of his career when
he feared he would never play for
England again as he prepares to
win his 100th cap against France
in Paris tomorrow.
Beckham gave up the captaincy
after the 2006 World Cup finals
in Germany but was hurt'' when
the then coach Steve McClaren
rang to say he would not be part
of his plans.
The former Manchester United
star was on 94 caps and thought
he would not have the opportunity
to add to that tally.
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But Beckham responded by
performing well under Fabio
Capello for Real Madrid and, as
England's Euro 2008 qualifying
campaign stuttered, he was recalled
by McClaren.
Now he is one cap away from
joining Peter Shilton, Bobby
Moore, Sir Bobby Charlton and
Billy Wright in making 100 appearances
for England.
Beckham said: I've had a few
low points like that phone call
from Steve McClaren. You always
react off feelings and, when I had
the phone call, I was shocked and
hurt.
Then I had a 14-hour flight
with Real Madrid to sit and think
about it. I have just been talking
to Woody (Jonathan Woodgate)
about it and, funnily enough, he
was sitting next to me when I got
the phone call.
That was the time when I
thought I would never get to 95
caps, yet alone have the chance of
reaching 100. Realistically I
thought it was over with England.
It was a pretty low point but
I've always felt you respond to situations
how you feel best. I
thought the best way to respond
was by performing and playing
well on the field and not talking
about anything I was feeling at
the time.
I got my head down and I
ended up getting back in the
squad and the chance to reach
that 95 and now I'm one away
from 100, which will be brilliant
for me if I reach it.''
Beckham is determined to
carry on playing for his country
once he has reached the three-figure
mark and has his sights set
on the 2010 World Cup finals in
South Africa.
The Los Angeles Galaxy player
believes he is fit enough to continue
playing at international
level 12 years after making his
debut against Moldova in September
1996.
He said: As much as reaching
100 is a milestone, it is still important
for me to carry on. I want
to be given the chance to take it
beyond that.
Things can change. You can
have extreme highs and lows. I've
had those in the last couple of
years but I wouldn't be sat here
now and putting myself forward
if I couldn't physically do it. I still
feel I can perform at the highest
level.
The 2010 World Cup remains
an ambition. I am quite a stubborn
person so it is something I
want to reach.
Every player realises how
lucky they are to play for their
country but who knows what is
around the corner?''
Beckham feels he has reaped
the benefits from a strenuous
pre-season at LA Galaxy under
Ruud Gullit.
He said: We have been on tour
and played a few games. I've got
the fitness I needed. Ruud Gullit
has been working us hard, doing
double sessions, for the last three
weeks. It has been good for me.
Double sessions for three
weeks is tough work. We were in
Hawaii for a week and then in
Asia for two weeks. We worked
extremely hard. It is the fittest
the team and a lot of the guys
have been.
The standard in America is
higher than anyone thinks and
expects. People say can you play
at this level or that level. But it
doesn't change me as a player.
I'll always be the same player
that, if given five yards, I can
cross a ball into the danger area.
People have said I've lost my
pace but I've never had a major
amount of pace. I was never
someone who went past players.
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