David Beckham expects backlash but will not count himself out yet

November 23, 2007

Oliver Kay

David Beckham knows from his own unpleasant experience that the English public does not indulge failure unless it is the type that can be classed as heroic. When it comes to abject failure and accusations of hubris among a group of young multimillionaires, that public can be downright unforgiving and Beckham knows that, while he can take sanctuary in California, difficult times lie ahead for those team-mates who must face the wrath of supporters up and down the country.

“Without a doubt there will be a backlash,” Beckham said. “It’s how we deal with it that counts. If you’re going to play at this level, you’ve got to take the good with the bad. It doesn’t matter how many cars or houses you’ve got, when you lose a game like this you’re hurting as a player, just like the fans.

“When things go bad, the amount of money that players earn always gets thrown out there, of course it does, because when people are seeing the amount of money in football and what the players earn, they want results. And we’ve not had results.”

Most of Beckham’s team-mates are young enough to feel that they have time on their side, but, for the former captain, there is the distinct possibility that his 99th appearance for England will prove to be his last.

Dumped from the squad when Steve McClaren took charge in August last year, he, along with David James and Sol Campbell, forced his way back into contention, but it remains to be seen whether the next head coach will find a place in his plans for an injury-prone 32-year-old who can occasionally be found hitting Hollywood passes for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Bookmakers offered odds as short as 1-7 yesterday that he would reach 100 caps, but, given that he will be 35 by the time the 2010 World Cup finals kick off, it is highly uncertain whether McClaren’s successor would see Beckham as integral to the team’s future.

One thing that is certain is that Beckham will not be retiring from international football. “I want to carry on playing for England,” he said. “I said that when I was taken out of the team and I said it when I was put back into the team. I’ve got no reason to step down and not make myself available for England. I’d love to be involved in 2010. Eight months ago I didn’t expect to be here playing at Wembley again, so we’ll see what the future holds.”

Whatever the future for Beckham, he accepts that the faults that led to the national team failing to qualify for a leading tournament for the first time since 1994 must lie somewhere and changes will have to be made.

“There must be something wrong,” he said. “We’re a nation with some of the best players in the world. There can be no excuses. We should be qualifying for major tournaments. That is the bottom line.”