Starting Eleven – David Beckham’s England Career
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar David Beckham finally won his 100th cap for England this week to join an elite club of players to have turned out in a century of three lions internationals. Having been left out of Capello’s first squad to face Switzerland, Beckham was recalled after regaining his match fitness for the LA Galaxy and started on his favoured right hand side of midfield in England’s 1-0 defeat in Paris.
Many feel that having been left out by Steve Maclaren when he took over as manager in August 2006 the former captain’s international career was over but Beckham was recalled by the former England manager before losing his place at the start of Capello’s reign last month. Whether Beckham has a career in international football or not there is no doubt that achieving 100 caps is a fantastic achievement and in homage to his wonderful feat, take a look back at the International career of David Beckham…
Many feel that having been left out by Steve Maclaren when he took over as manager in August 2006 the former captain’s international career was over but Beckham was recalled by the former England manager before losing his place at the start of Capello’s reign last month. Whether Beckham has a career in international football or not there is no doubt that achieving 100 caps is a fantastic achievement and in homage to his wonderful feat, take a look back at the International career of David Beckham…
Vs Moldova (1st Cap - 1996)
Beckham won his first cap after breaking through into the Manchester United first team in 1996. Glenn Hoddle called up the right winger who started and helped England to an easy 3-0 win during qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France.
Vs Argentina (18th Cap - 1998)
The midfielder was then picked for the World Cup squad and made his tournament debut as a sub against Romania. Beckham started England’s final group game against Columbia and scored a free kick as the three lions won 2-0. England faced off against Argentina in the second round but at 2-2 in the second half, Beckham was sent off for retaliation against Diego Simeone and he was turned into a hate figure by the English media.
Vs Italy (37th Cap - 2000)
After a change in the England set up, Peter Taylor, the temporary manager, made Beckham his captain for a trip to Italy. The honour seemed to inspire the midfielder who was by far the best player on the pitch and deserved more than to be defeated in his first game as skipper.
Vs Greece (46th Cap - 2001)
Having recovered from losing the final match at Wembley stadium to Germany, England had put themselves within touching distance of the World Cup Finals thanks to a brilliant 5-1 victory in Munich. The final piece of the qualification program was to defeat Greece at Old Trafford to cap a tremendous turn around under Sven Goran Eriksson. Coming back from 1-0 down England found themselves 2-1 behind with time winding down and turned to their inspirational captain to drag them out of trouble. In search of a goal that would save his side Beckham charged around from end to end before capping a magnificent performance with a curling free kick into the top corner in the 94th minute.
Vs Argentina (51st Cap - 2002)
With a disappointing start to their World Cup campaign, England faced off against one of the favourites in the tournament after their opening draw with Sweden. Four years after his sending off against in the previous World Cup, Beckham prepared to lay his Argentina demons to rest by leading England to victory in Japan. In the opening twenty minutes of the game his moment to shine came when Michael Owen won a penalty. Summing up all his courage, Beckham slammed his penalty down the middle to help England to the quarter finals.
Vs Turkey (59th Cap - 2002)
After failing to beat Brazil in the World Cup quarter finals, England’s next target was Portugal for the European Championships in 2004. Sven’s men began with a draw against Macedonia before a crunch match with Turkey at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. The atmosphere was fiery but once again the England captain kept his cool to help his side to a victory. After Darius Vassell scored the opening goal of the game, Beckham had his chance to add an exclamation mark to the night late on when Kieran Dyer won a penalty. After a superb game, Beckham got his reward by smashing the ball into the bottom left corner to set England well on their way to the finals.
Vs Turkey (64th Cap - 2003)
With England needing a draw to cap a dramatic qualification campaign and seal a place at Euro 2004, captain Beckham led his side into the hostile atmosphere of Istanbul for a vital international. When Gerrard was fouled in the area in the opening twenty minutes, Beckham stepped up from the spot but fired the ball well over the bar and was then goaded by defender Alpay. The England captain, grown from his Argentina experience kept his cool and walked away from the situation. Hard work in the rest of the game earned Beckham the man of the match and ensured that England would have a chance of winning the European Championships.
Vs Portugal (94th Cap - 2006)
In the quarter finals of the World Cup in Germany 2006, David Beckham led his England side out in Gelsenkirchen to face Portugal in a pivotal knock out game. After a bumpy path through the finals so far England played some good football against the Portuguese but the sending off of Wayne Rooney in the second half jeopardized the team’s hopes of winning. Despite a performance of much credit, an injured Beckham was substituted in the 65 minute of what turned out to be his final game as England captain.
Vs Brazil (95th Cap -2007)
After months on the sidelines for both Real Madrid and England, Beckham earned himself a recall with some superb club performances and was selected to start by Steve Maclaren against Brazil in a friendly at Wembley Stadium. Many had quested Beckham’s ability to be part of the ‘new’ youthful looking England set up but in a fine performance the right winger capped his night with a trademark cross from which John Terry scored the opening goal.
Vs Croatia (99th Cap)
Having been recalled to help England finish of their qualification program against Croatia, Beckham started the game on the bench with Maclaren opting for Shaun Wright Phillips ahead of him. The Three Lions soon found themselves two goals down and Beckham was summoned from the bench to make an impact. A trademark cross into the area caused chaos as England won a penalty and five minutes later Beckham stormed down the right-hand side to cross for Crouch who put the game level. Sadly it wasn’t to be as England conceded a third goal and went onto lose the match and ultimately not make it to the finals of Euro 2008.
Vs France (100th Cap)
After all the ‘will he, won’t he’ in the media, Beckham finally made his 100th appearance against France in Paris back in his favoured position of right midfield. Although England lost the game, the LA Galaxy player was one of the outstanding players on the pitch.
Beckham won his first cap after breaking through into the Manchester United first team in 1996. Glenn Hoddle called up the right winger who started and helped England to an easy 3-0 win during qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France.
Vs Argentina (18th Cap - 1998)
The midfielder was then picked for the World Cup squad and made his tournament debut as a sub against Romania. Beckham started England’s final group game against Columbia and scored a free kick as the three lions won 2-0. England faced off against Argentina in the second round but at 2-2 in the second half, Beckham was sent off for retaliation against Diego Simeone and he was turned into a hate figure by the English media.
Vs Italy (37th Cap - 2000)
After a change in the England set up, Peter Taylor, the temporary manager, made Beckham his captain for a trip to Italy. The honour seemed to inspire the midfielder who was by far the best player on the pitch and deserved more than to be defeated in his first game as skipper.
Vs Greece (46th Cap - 2001)
Having recovered from losing the final match at Wembley stadium to Germany, England had put themselves within touching distance of the World Cup Finals thanks to a brilliant 5-1 victory in Munich. The final piece of the qualification program was to defeat Greece at Old Trafford to cap a tremendous turn around under Sven Goran Eriksson. Coming back from 1-0 down England found themselves 2-1 behind with time winding down and turned to their inspirational captain to drag them out of trouble. In search of a goal that would save his side Beckham charged around from end to end before capping a magnificent performance with a curling free kick into the top corner in the 94th minute.
Vs Argentina (51st Cap - 2002)
With a disappointing start to their World Cup campaign, England faced off against one of the favourites in the tournament after their opening draw with Sweden. Four years after his sending off against in the previous World Cup, Beckham prepared to lay his Argentina demons to rest by leading England to victory in Japan. In the opening twenty minutes of the game his moment to shine came when Michael Owen won a penalty. Summing up all his courage, Beckham slammed his penalty down the middle to help England to the quarter finals.
Vs Turkey (59th Cap - 2002)
After failing to beat Brazil in the World Cup quarter finals, England’s next target was Portugal for the European Championships in 2004. Sven’s men began with a draw against Macedonia before a crunch match with Turkey at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. The atmosphere was fiery but once again the England captain kept his cool to help his side to a victory. After Darius Vassell scored the opening goal of the game, Beckham had his chance to add an exclamation mark to the night late on when Kieran Dyer won a penalty. After a superb game, Beckham got his reward by smashing the ball into the bottom left corner to set England well on their way to the finals.
Vs Turkey (64th Cap - 2003)
With England needing a draw to cap a dramatic qualification campaign and seal a place at Euro 2004, captain Beckham led his side into the hostile atmosphere of Istanbul for a vital international. When Gerrard was fouled in the area in the opening twenty minutes, Beckham stepped up from the spot but fired the ball well over the bar and was then goaded by defender Alpay. The England captain, grown from his Argentina experience kept his cool and walked away from the situation. Hard work in the rest of the game earned Beckham the man of the match and ensured that England would have a chance of winning the European Championships.
Vs Portugal (94th Cap - 2006)
In the quarter finals of the World Cup in Germany 2006, David Beckham led his England side out in Gelsenkirchen to face Portugal in a pivotal knock out game. After a bumpy path through the finals so far England played some good football against the Portuguese but the sending off of Wayne Rooney in the second half jeopardized the team’s hopes of winning. Despite a performance of much credit, an injured Beckham was substituted in the 65 minute of what turned out to be his final game as England captain.
Vs Brazil (95th Cap -2007)
After months on the sidelines for both Real Madrid and England, Beckham earned himself a recall with some superb club performances and was selected to start by Steve Maclaren against Brazil in a friendly at Wembley Stadium. Many had quested Beckham’s ability to be part of the ‘new’ youthful looking England set up but in a fine performance the right winger capped his night with a trademark cross from which John Terry scored the opening goal.
Vs Croatia (99th Cap)
Having been recalled to help England finish of their qualification program against Croatia, Beckham started the game on the bench with Maclaren opting for Shaun Wright Phillips ahead of him. The Three Lions soon found themselves two goals down and Beckham was summoned from the bench to make an impact. A trademark cross into the area caused chaos as England won a penalty and five minutes later Beckham stormed down the right-hand side to cross for Crouch who put the game level. Sadly it wasn’t to be as England conceded a third goal and went onto lose the match and ultimately not make it to the finals of Euro 2008.
Vs France (100th Cap)
After all the ‘will he, won’t he’ in the media, Beckham finally made his 100th appearance against France in Paris back in his favoured position of right midfield. Although England lost the game, the LA Galaxy player was one of the outstanding players on the pitch.