England 1 - 2 Germany
The BBC match report is online here and you can click here to rate the players the first of the photos are in the gallery thanks to Tanique33.
Post-match comments
You can watch a clip of Becks talking to skysports and to The BBC above. It's not very good quality and the clips are clearer on the sites.
David Beckham told reporters, "It was nice to get the minutes. In the last nine weeks I have only played two games and trained three times. The ankle still a bit sore but it was nice to be out there"
"I thought I played well... I tired towards the end, but it was good to get 90 to 94 minutes out there. I haven't played many games. I've played about three games and trained about three times... Every time I step on to the pitch it feels like a trial. I'm always wanting to prove people wrong all the time. People expect that I can't handle the travel, then I have to prove them wrong. That's the only way I can do it, by playing well and winning games. We didn't win, but I'm happy to be out there for 90 minutes."
When he was asked if the travel affected him he said, "Not at all, I slept nine hours every night. My body clock's slightly back into the way of life back here in England. So far it hasn't affected me... In the future, who knows? I can't say that it's not going to but, at the moment, it's not and I'll carry on playing for my country as long as I'm wanted."
He also said, "I got a knock on my ankle and it has slightly swelled up again but I'm planning on playing tomorrow."
Germany Coach Joachim Loew said limiting Beckham's chances was key to the victory. "England only got a few free kicks, that's the biggest danger with England, the free kicks from Beckham."
There is a write up in The Times about David Beckham's continued place in the England squad, that is reasonably balanced.
David Beckham's Soccer USA
Here is the UK version of David Beckham's Soccer USA the US version is online at MLSnet.comPart 2 - Part 3 - Part 4
posted by rpm at 2:29 PM
16 Comments:
honestly, i'm done being angry about the situation. david wants to be out there, his coaches want him out there, and that's that really.
he knows his body better than anyone. he says while the schedule is tough, he wants to be on the pitch. so, personally, it's about keeping my fingers crossed and just wishing him well, and continuing to wish a speedy recovery.
clearly he will continue to play on this ankle, so i won't get worked up anymore, or place blame. i'll have to trust david knows what he is doing, and the final word is his, and i'll respect that.
all that said, from what i've seen so far, he's had some really nice assists, unfortunately they couldn't convert them to goals. it sucks they loss, but hopefully the outcome will be different with israel.
fingers crossed still the flight back doesn't effect the ankle too much.
3:20 PM
CIAO! We are sad that the England has lost (unfortunately has lost also ITALY). David as always he puts the heart when he plays, we do not understand as never MacClaren has made it to play all the macth, perhaps exists a reason that we do not know. We do not want to think that it is a crazy Manager to put to risk a soccer player who must help the England for the Europeans to september. Naturally we hope that also the Galaxy is not insensitive, AND TOMORROW LEAVES HE At REST. cannot leave David the decision to play, this must take Yellop. We augur a resting travel and that God always protect he. Loredana, Samuele, Gabriel
3:49 PM
anna, you picked the perfect pic for the post. it sort of summed up the game.
4:08 PM
lol yes - unfortunately it was a bit of a blah game :(
4:33 PM
Once the player is on the field it is up to the manager to sub them or not. Of course if they collapse and have to be carried off on a stretcher then it's clear cut but if a player looks tired or is wincing a bit... the players don't run to the sideline and say take me off now.
well they don't when they play for England... so it was McClaren's call to play him for 90 and McClaren's alone as he used all his subs and he did not sub David
I hope hes ok. I feel sorry for poor Robbo he'll get all the blame for making that goof :-(
I hope he doesn't try to play tomorrow
5:28 PM
Thanks for the photos Tanique :)
Julie - In the Times article it says that Becks went to go to the bench when Shaun Wright-Phillips came on because he thought he was being subbed but SWP replaced Cole on the left although he normally always plays on the right.
McClaren knew that his best chance of tying it up was likely to come from a set piece.
5:52 PM
that was a good read. thanks for the times link.
6:07 PM
I'm sorry they lost. Come to think of it, it's rather ironic that Germany was the last team to beat them at old Wembley and the first team to beat them at new Wembley..
Just hope ppl dun start pointing fingers at Becks (you know the press...) because he was really hardworking tonite but perhaps just not 100% fit. I have a feeling he will definitely play a part in tonite's MLS game (he's that committed!) I guess he knows himself better than anyone else so he has my FULL support ;)
Anyway fingers crossed he'll do great plus ankle injury to recover asap because crucial euro qualifiers are just around the corner and Becks most definitely would not want to miss that!
6:44 PM
everyone thought so too, that Shaun Wright-Phillips, and apparently so did Beckham. But I guess, this is as good as test as any for Beckham's match fitness, playing a number of matches within a tight schedule. Hope the physios for both teams would take care of Beckham.
Marie
9:11 PM
I don't know Marie, I just hope they will keep in mind he is injured/not fit because playing Saturday, then Weds, then Thurs is tough - but I think he could do it if anyone can - when hes 100% - My concern is that people are going to judge whether he can do it based on how he handles it when hes coming back from injury and that's not an accurate indicator as hopefully he will be fully fit when he does it in future!
1:07 AM
We shoould have won or at least got the draw Owen Lamps and Dyer really missed some chances was a shame.
The lad did ok not at his best for obvious reasons
2:36 AM
well I guess I'm out of step with most of you... David has my full support always has always will! But I think that very unwise risks are being taken and I'm not ok with it. Yesterday's match was a friendly after all.
I'll be very happy if he gets away with this but it's a roll of the dice and there was a time when clubs and Managers looked out for their players, when a players sometimes misguided patriotism dedication and desire to play wasn't used against them.
I guess we now live in a time when no one is interested in kindness anymore in people having the decency to look out for each other.
David since he was little more than a kid has lived inside a certain kind of bubble from the age of 16 through to 27 he lived day in and day out in a clulture where you followed orders, and you did what you were told when you were told, the first time he really answered back in that culture he was sold, Fergie runs a tight ship.
So what might seem natural to us and how we might assume it would work may not in fact be how David approaches things.
Enough ranting and raving from me sorry Anna :-)
3:14 AM
when is there going to be last nights clips of david beckham soccer usa
3:17 AM
Your wish is my command :)
6:42 AM
yup, Ana I still worry with his injuries, I was just trying to rationalize Mclaren's decision to keep him for a full 90 minutes in a friendly---sigh...and Beckham is the type of player who do not ask to substituted even when he is limping around on the field, that attitude goes back to his ManU days, and you're right Julie, managers and coaches would and I think in this case have exploited him. Now, I hope LA would limit his playing time or not play at all.
Marie
8:40 AM
thanks for grabbing the bbc vid.
9:30 AM
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