Beckham 100th cap and hungry for more

Much was made of Beckham’s future with the Three Lions following his decision to step down as captain after Luis Felipe Scolari and Portugal proved to be their undoing in the quarterfinals once again.

Successor of then-manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was his assistant and Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren. McClaren made the bold move of dropping Beckham from the squad altogether - many believed this was just to prove a point, rather than being on merit - and results were not forthcoming for the coach.

Indeed when Beckham returned to the fold with McClaren’s men were near rockbottom, the iconic number 7 proved an asset and almost made enough match-winning contributions to see England escape the humiliation of failing to qualify for Euro 2008.

Of course, it was not to be: though the loss came on the final day of qualifying, the damage had been done months earlier.

McClaren was the fall guy on this occasion, and England sought out arguably the world’s most successful coach as his replacement.

Capello had of course just left Real Madrid where he had won La Liga largely thanks to Beckham, but not before experiencing troublesome times with the winger. Don Fabio dropped him from his squad shortly after McClaren gave him the England axe, and refusing to play him when he had arranged a move to LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

Fences were mended, though, but Capello did not call up Beckham to his inaugural England squad due to a lack of fitness. Many felt this would leave Beckham stranded on 99 caps, and his fate became almost of more interest to the media than the rest of the team’s put together.

Many thought with Beckham now playing in such a supposedly inferior league, he was of no worth to the England set-up. Capello appears to disagree, as tonight, Golden Balls ran out for his 100th cap against France, and Capello has hinted it’s not the last we’ll see of him either.

“I’m very honoured,” Beckham told Sky Sports after the game. “Straight from when I started playing for England I never dreamed I’d get 100 caps, and hopefully beyond.

“I’m happy, but like I said during the week I want to carry on. Of course things can change but I want to carry on playing for my country.”

“I’ve proved my fitness, that’s the biggest thing. We’re not into our season yet [in the United States' Major Soccer League] but I felt great, I felt a lot better than I thought I would.”

With Beckham now in a very much exclusive 100 club, suggestions have begun that he may go on to surpass the great Bobby Moore’s 108 caps - the record for an outfield player - while goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s 125 seems somewhat further off in the distance.

Beckham, though, is just embracing the achievement as it is: “Just to go over the 100 mark is a proud moment.

“To be up there with Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Billy Wright and Peter Shilton, I’m honoured to be in that company.”

In Beckham’s 100 appearances for England, he has scored 17 goals.

Chet Winter, Goal.com

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