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Beckham's bitter-sweet memories as England captain
By Tim Rich (Telegraph.co.uk)
Updated: 2005-11-10 09:35
It is somehow appropriate that David Beckham's 50th match as England captain
should be against Argentina, opponents who more than any other have defined his
career.
David Beckham is
hit by a football during a training session at Carrington training complex
in Manchester November 9, 2005. [Reuters] | When
Michael Owen is asked about Argentina, as he will be today, there is always a
smile, there is nothing negative to say, but with Beckham things are rather more
mixed. It is difficult now to recall just how intense the reaction was to his
dismissal in St Etienne during the 1998 World Cup or the sense of vindication
when he drove home his penalty against the same opponents in Japan four years
later.
Seven years ago, the man who was on the point of becoming the most famous
footballer in the world had his effigy hung outside a south London pub. The
headline after his petulant kick at Diego Simeone: "Ten Heroes and One Stupid
Boy" summed up the popular attitude to him.
"People go on about my foul on Simeone and the red card but obviously I'd
rather talk about the penalty four years later," Beckham said in Madrid before
departing for Manchester, where he joined up with the England squad. "Every time
we play Argentina there is hysteria around the game and what has happened; not
just with me over the last few years but with other people as well.
"It seems Argentina are destined to play a big part in my career. It is a
special moment. Not only because it is my 50th as captain but because it's
against a team rated as one of the best in the world."
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