Beckham Going Home?? :o :( [Archive]

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King Tubby

26-05-2002, 08:55 PM

From the News of the World

Sven: I may send Beckham home

ENGLAND are facing their worst World Cup nightmare — David Beckham could be sent home without kicking a ball.

Coach Sven Goran Eriksson has been told his captain WON'T be fit for England's opening game against Sweden a week today.

And there are fears Becks (pictured right arriving in Osaka yesterday) won't make the second group clash with Argentina.

Eriksson confirmed that if Beckham and fellow crock Kieron Dyer are unable to play in either match, he may ditch them from his 23-man squad.

To add to his problems, keeper David Seaman has a slight groin strain which forced him to miss this morning's friendly with Cameroon.

Eriksson confessed: "If Beckham and Dyer can't play football in training by Thursday or Friday, we will have to make a new decision. It would be very bad to have to send Beckham home — extremely bad for England, for himself and for the World Cup.

"It would be like taking out Zidane, Raul or Figo. I never thought of David not playing against Sweden and Argentina.

"I always thought he would play from the first minute against Sweden but I cannot be sure.

"The medical staff are working with him every day — but it is hope, because you cannot be sure.

"If I have a guarantee that players cannot start against Sweden or Argentina I will have to make a decision."

It is the Beckham bombshell that will stun the nation just five days before the tournament kicks off.

Everyone has been praying skipper Beckham will recover from his broken left foot in time to lead our World Cup glory bid.

But England fitness guru Ivan Carminati revealed to the News of the World that Beckham will NOT be fit to face Sweden and is battling against the odds to play against Argentina in Sapporo.

The Italian admitted: "I hope we have enough time for David, but I am not sure.

"I am not thinking about the first game against Sweden — but maybe the second — the same as with Dyer.

"From Monday we will have 12 days to the Argentina game and we have to cross our fingers."

We can also reveal that Beckham's damaged foot swelled up last Thursday as a reaction to the recent work he has been doing.

And Eriksson added: "Maybe he is working too hard.

"Maybe we will survive through the group without him. Who knows?"

Beckham and the rest of the squad arrived in Osaka yesterday to a frenzied welcome by more than 800 Japanese fans.

A line of police held back the crowd and concerned minder Ray Whitworth grabbed Beckham by the arm and escorted him onto the team coach for the transfer to their World Cup base on nearby Awaji Island.

Sunny Fan

26-05-2002, 09:00 PM

Eriksson came out this morning and said this was rubbish; he wouldn't be drawn on Beckham's fitness for the Sweden game though.

As an aside, I think I broke a metatarsal walking into a door on Friday night:(

Daniel_Nash

26-05-2002, 09:01 PM

Update!

KOBE, Japan, May 26 (DS) - England World Cup squad are facing the disastrous possibility that David Beckham could be forced to travel home before the kick-off of the World Cup, the News of the World reported.
England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has been told his captain will not recover in time for England's opening game against Sweden. Beckham is also doubtful for the second group clash against Argentina.
Eriksson stated that if Beckham and his teammate Kieron Dyer prove to be unavailable for either match, he might be forced to drop them from his 23-man squad.

To add to England manager's problems, keeper David Seaman has sustained a groin strain which ruled him out of today's friendly with Cameroon.

Eriksson stated: "If Beckham and Dyer can't play football in training by Thursday or Friday, we will have to make a new decision. It would be very bad to have to send Beckham home - extremely bad for England, for himself and for the World Cup.

"It would be like taking out Zidane, Raul or Figo. I never thought of David not playing against Sweden and Argentina.

"I always thought he would play from the first minute against Sweden but I cannot be sure.

"The medical staff are working with him every day - but it is hope, because you cannot be sure.

"If I have a guarantee that players cannot start against Sweden or Argentina I will have to make a decision."

Daniel_Nash

26-05-2002, 09:06 PM

Then later:

Sven Goran Eriksson insists David Beckham will be fit for the World Cup opener with Sweden next Sunday.

Reports had suggested that the England skipper will miss the Group F game on June 2 due to his broken metatarsal, but the Swede is expecting the midfielder - and Manchester United team-mate Nicky Butt - to be fot in time.

Beckham was on the bench to see Robbie Fowler and Darius Vassell earn Eriksson's men a 2-2 draw but his manager is "optimistic" he will make the other side of the white line in Saitama in seven days' time.

He told Sky Sports: "I never really thought that he wouldn't take part in the World Cup and we are hoping, and planning, for him to be on the pitch next Sunday.

"He has been running today and he's going to work on it again this evening and maybe once or twice tomorrow.

"Hopefully by the middle of the week he can come onto the football pitch and play with us."

Eriksson insisted that Kieron Dyer could also make the Sweden date, while David Seaman, Ashley Cole and Butt are almost certain startes despite missing the final warm-up game in Kobe.

Erikssons said: "I think the first one back will be Nicky Butt and then Seaman of course - I don't think it's a big problem.

"Then we'll see about Beckham and Dyer but we will plan to have them fit for next Sunday.

Butt, Beckham and Dyer have been injured for a long time, but I am optimistic they will be alright.

"The players, apart from the ones that are injured, are in good shape. We have a lot of work to do next week, but I still think yes, we are in good shape.

"It's been good to play Korea and Cameroon. Today we saw some good things and some things we must do better next Sunday."

Goal hero Robbie Fowler admitted that he is still not fully fit despite emerging as the hero from England's 2-2 draw with Cameroon.

The Leeds man, who has been dogged by a hip problem picked up at the end of the Premiership season, netted his third England goal in as many games and then revealed he is still not 100 per cent.

Fowler told Sky Sports: "It was touch and go before whether I got a game, because it was still a bit niggly. But I spoke with the manager and he felt a 10 ro 15-minute run-out would do me the world of good.

"But if I've still got niggles next week, I'll tell the manager. It won't do me, or England, any good if I'm not fully fit."

Man of the match Owen Hargreaves felt England were worth the draw against Cameroon despite leaving it very, very late.

Hargreaves was the pick on a side that was packed with youngsters and admitted that, although they struggled early on, Sven's young guns deserved their late fortune.

He told Sky Sports: "It was tough game. The conditions were a lot warmer and in the first half we struggled to find our rhythm.

"But Cameroon are a good side and they are similar to Nigeria in the way they play their football, so we were very happy with the equaliser. I think we deserved the draw."

Injuries still dominate talk in the England camp, but stand-in captain Michael Owen believes that all players will be fit to face Sweden.

Owen told Sky Sports: "We are building towards the first game against Sweden and that is another game under our belt. Admittedly, there was a lot of injuries before the Cameroon game so it may not be the starting eleven but it was a useful work-out and the important thing is there was no injuries.

"Obviously the injury thing is not too bad as we hope to have everyone fit for the first game but it means we can't train with everyone. It would be nice if everyone was fit and everyone could train together. The main thing is that we are all fit for the first game.

"With an injury-free squad, I think we can do well. We've got some world class players, and even though we have proved that we can cope without them, there is no substitute for your starting eleven."

213

King Tubby

26-05-2002, 09:09 PM

Originally posted by Daniel_Nash
Then later:

Sven Goran Eriksson insists David Beckham will be fit for the World Cup opener with Sweden next Sunday.

Now, that's made the world a much nicer place!