REVENGE NOT ON BECKHAM'S MIND

David Beckham will never forget the despair and desolation of two years ago - but he insists revenge is not the prime motivation for beating Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday.


Beckham was introduced as a half-time substitute during that fateful Euro 2008 qualifier and thought he had inspired a revival as England clawed their way from two goals down to put themselves on track for a draw that would have booked their place in Austria and Switzerland.

Unforgivably, Steve McClaren's team were caught out on the counter-attack with 13 minutes to go, spawning the legend of 'Wally with the Brolly' and ensuring the former Middlesbrough coach's reign will be remembered as a total failure.

That same group of players could hardly have imagined less than two years later they would have a chance to exorcise those ghosts.

If they can manage to beat Croatia this time around, England will book their place at South Africa 2010 with two matches to spare.

And that is what matters to Beckham and the boys.

"Not qualifying for that competition was disastrous for us," he said.

"It was one of the most difficult times. When you don't win a game you should at Wembley and don't qualify it's hurtful.
"In the changing room afterwards, everyone was so upset. We were depressed for a few months and we need to put it right.

"But Wednesday is not about revenge or putting bad memories to rest. Our objective is to reach the World Cup."

If England can do that. And Beckham can retain his place when Capello announces his 23-man squad, the former Manchester United star would join a very exclusive club of players to have been to four World Cups. Appear a single minute and he would be the first man to play in four for the Three Lions.

As his international career seemed to be over in the wake of England's quarter-final defeat to Portugal in Gelsenkirchen three years ago, it is testament to Beckham's durability that not only did he prove impossible to replace for McClaren, he was also selected by Fabio Capello, a man who came close to booting him out of Real Madrid.

"I have had an incredible career so far," he reflected.

"I have had ups and downs, played in three World Cups, been captain of my country and played for some of the biggest clubs in the world.

"But if we reach another World Cup and I play some part, it will be up there with all the other achievements I've had in my career."

The common consensus has been that while Beckham cannot provide the pace of Theo Walcott, nor Shaun Wright-Phillips or Aaron Lennon, who will vie for the right-sided midfield berth this week, at 34 he retains enough craft and accuracy with his set-piece delivery that he will be essential to Capello in South Africa.

Nothing can be taken for granted though, especially as his short-term future beyond the current MLS season with Los Angeles Galaxy is still open to debate.

According to the complicated deal he worked out with the Galaxy, Beckham should be joining AC Milan on loan in January.

However, the former England skipper does have other alternatives, which include a return to the Premier League.

"Who knows what my future holds," he said.

"As everyone is aware, I will finish the MLS season with LA Galaxy - and things have been going pretty well there - after that I need to do what I can to be involved in the rest of the games and, if we qualify, hopefully into the manager's plans for next year."

According to Slaven Bilic, qualification itself is not certain because England are a "flawed" team.

Given they did win 4-1 in Zagreb last September, presumably the English flaws are not as deep-rooted as those afflicting a Croatian team that will be lacking Luka Modric through injury and Vedran Corluka because of the red card he received in Saturday's win over Belarus.

Not that Beckham is getting drawn into a war of words. He is far too experienced for anything like that.

"Bilic is a great manager who has done well with the Croatia team," he said.

"He is entitled to his opinion like everyone else.

"But this team is now together. There are some of the best players in the world in this squad.

"Of course, there are flaws in the team and mistakes that are made, but it's about correcting them and moving on."