Sports/Olympics / All About the Players

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.
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