|
| |
Fourth Season, 2006-07
Out of favour with manager Fabio Capello, Beckham started only a few games in
that season, normally as a substitute, as Jose Antonio Reyes was normally
preferred on the right wing. In the nine matches Beckham started, Real had lost
seven.
On January 10, 2007, after prolonged contract negotiations, Real Madrid's
sporting director Predrag Mijatovi? announced that Beckham would not remain at
Real Madrid after the end of the season. However he later claimed that he was
mistranslated and that he actually said that Beckham's contract had not been
renewed yet.
On January 11, 2007, Beckham announced that he had signed a five-year deal to
play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, from 1 July 2007. On 13 January Fabio Capello
said that Beckham had played his last game for Real Madrid, although he would
continue to train with the team.
World Cup 2006
David Beckham at the 2006 World CupDuring the FIFA World Cup 2006, England were
seen as a potential winner by many, but since the start of the competition the
team had several slow paced matches and Beckham's performance was criticised by
the majority of the press and public. However, many still considered Beckham's
contribution to England important as the team progressed to the quarter-finals
of the tournament.
In England's opening game against Paraguay on June 10, Beckham's free kick led
to an own-goal by Carlos Gamarra, and England won 1-0. In England's next match,
played against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15, Beckham's cross in the 83rd
minute led to Peter Crouch's goal which put England ahead 1-0. Beckham gave
another assist to Steven Gerrard. In the end they won 2-0. He was named
Man-of-the-Match by tournament sponsor Budweiser for this game. The English
media criticised Beckham's performance in England's final Group B match against
Sweden on June 20,[citation needed] citing his apparent inability to take the
ball around players as an increasing hindrance to England's chances of winning
the World Cup.
During England's second round match against Ecuador, Beckham scored from a free
kick in the 59th minute, becoming the first ever English player to score in
three World Cups, and giving England a 1-0 victory and a place in the
quarter-finals. He was sick before the game and vomited several times as a
result of dehydration and illness after he scored the winning goal.
In the quarter finals stage of the World Cup against Portugal, Beckham was
substituted following an injury shortly after half time and the England team
went on to lose the match on penalties (3-1), the scores having been 0-0 after
extra time. After his substitution, Beckham was visibly shaken and emotional for
not being able to play, being in tears at one point.
A day after England were knocked out of the World Cup, an emotional Beckham made
a statement in a news conference saying that he had stepped down as England
captain, saying, "It has been an honour and privilege to captain my country but,
having been captain for 58 of my 95 caps, I feel the time is right to pass on
the armband as we enter a new era under Steve McClaren."
Having stepped down as captain after the World Cup, Beckham was dropped
completely from the England national team selected by new coach Steve McClaren
on 11 August, 2006. McClaren claimed that he was "looking to go in a different
direction" with the team, and that Beckham "wasn't included within that".
McClaren said Beckham could be recalled in future. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kieran
Richardson and the World Cup alternative to Beckham Aaron Lennon were all
included, and are likely to compete for what was Beckham's place on the
right-wing in future, although it seems that McClaren will employ Steven Gerrard
on that side.
There was talk that McClaren could recall Beckham after Aaron Lennon sustained
an injury in early September and Owen Hargreaves subsequently broke his
leg.[citation needed] However despite pressure from the media and high profile
sports figures Bobby Robson, Glenn Hoddle, Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen all
saying he should be in the England team,[citation needed] McClaren has not
recalled Beckham. In December, 2006, McClaren suggested that Steven Gerrard had
supplanted Beckham's role in the team: "We all know about David Beckham and his
delivery from the right-hand side. But Stevie's set-plays and crosses from the
right are as good as anybody in the world."
| |
|
