England 2 – 1 Slovenia
England won their match on Saturday without David, who didn’t get subbed in. Hopefully he’ll play this week! You can see a match report here.

Video highlights: England 2-1 Slovenia
The FA has official highlights from the game available to view here.


Beckham example motivates Defoe
Despite not being on the pitch, David’s impact was felt! Thanks to Sita for finding this encouraging piece.

Jermain Defoe has taken inspiration from David Beckham as he looks to make up for the disappointment of being overlooked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ by helping England reach next year’s finals. [...]

And Defoe remembers how Beckham responded after being sent off in the 1998 finals against Argentina in France and now has more than 100 caps to his name. Defoe said: “It was disappointing to miss out on 2006 but when you go through disappointments in life, it’s about how you react and come back from them.

“If you look at the most talented players, they all have to do that. If you look at David Beckham, he got sent off in the World Cup in 1998 and had to bounce back, which he did by getting a goal against Greece a few years later to get us to another finals.

“To do what he has done since, to get all those caps and have an incredible career, is unbelievable. You look at players like that and learn from them. You’ve just got to keep your head up and keep working and hopefully you will get another chance – and that’s what I want with this next World Cup.” Keep reading

Video: Press Conference, David’s Future
David talks about his future at a presser while in the England camp.

Beckham hints at early exit from Galaxy
Gleaned from material in the press conference.

David Beckham has hinted for the first time that he may not see out his lucrative five-year contract with American MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy.

However, his latest comments, ahead of England’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday, suggest that he may activate a get-out clause in his contract, which runs until 2012.

“I will finish the MLS season. After that, everybody knows that I’ll be coming back to play somewhere,” said Beckham, who is hoping to win his 114th international cap at Wembley, having been an unused substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 friendly win against Slovenia.

“LA Galaxy know that. If it upsets a few people, I can’t do anything about it. I keep saying how much I enjoy playing over there and how committed I am to the Galaxy — I think I will be back there after the World Cup.

“But there is a possibility that the contract might break in the autumn, and I do have options. Milan have made me aware that they want me to go back there and I’m more than happy with that.

“But I have also had another three or four offers, so when the time is right, I will decide.” Keep reading

Impact’s MLS bid interests Beckham
(Unconfirmed rumour)

Midfielder and his management team believed to be pursuing partnership with Saputo to bring franchise to Montreal [...]

According to the New York Times, British soccer superstar David Beckham has a contract provision in his deal with the L.A. Galaxy that allows him to take on an ownership stake in an MLS franchise upon his retirement, and is exploring the possibility of taking a stake in the Montreal Impact, which has well-established designs of joining the league. [...]

Saputo isn’t talking, but allowed in an interview with the Times that “I can say yes, we were approached about two months ago, but I can’t say by whom . . . I think Montreal would be a great candidate to be the 19th team in MLS no matter who’s involved. This is a great market, a great place for soccer.”

Beckham, for his part, confirmed to the BBC that “I have the right to own an MLS franchise, which I will act on immediately after I have stopped playing.” Keep reading

David Beckham: I Have Kept In Contact With Real Madrid President Florentino Perez
(Speculation based on comments in presser.)

David Beckham has revealed that he keeps in contact with Real Madrid supremo Florentino Perez, comments that could ignite rumours that he may be tempted back to the Bernabeu. [...]

Having admitted that he will return to Europe once again in order to try and win a place in Fabio Capello’s England World Cup squad, Beckham was asked whether he ever spoke to Perez at Madrid.

“Yes, I have always been in contact with Florentino Perez. I spoke to him to congratulate him on his return to the presidency,” Beckham told reporters at England’s training complex.

“I always keep in touch with him because he was the one who took me to Madrid.

“His return is not only beneficial to Madrid. Also for the Spanish Liga.” Source

Video: Beckham on Eduardo
A clip from the press conference about a controversy involving Arsenal player Eduardo da Silva, whom Becks will face vs. Croatia.

Beckham: Eduardo saga should be put to bed
This piece goes with the above clip.

”There has been far too much talk about diving,” said Beckham. ”No-one wants to see it and it is disappointing when it happens. But it happens every week and Eduardo is not the first person to have done it. The whole thing should be put to bed.

”Eduardo is a great player. It is not that long ago that he suffered an horrific injury. You don’t know what was going through his mind. He might have been trying to get out of the way of a tackle so he didn’t get injured again.”

Fabio Capello has already outlined his distaste for players who cheat, revealing he even admonished members of his own team when he was an international with Italy.

And Beckham confirmed the former AC Milan coach has brought a new discipline to the England scene.

”The manager has high expectations of the players, on and off the pitch,” he said. ”You always have to behave in the right way, whether you are playing or just walking round the hotel.

“What Fabio Capello has brought into squad and the nation is belief,” he added. “After the last qualification campaign, when we didn’t qualify, that belief and trust was lost from the fans and that hurts players. This qualification campaign has brought belief back into fans and the players. That’s what we needed to get back.

“We needed to get back to playing the football we knew we could play but we also needed the belief of the fans.” Keep reading

Croatia match is not about revenge, says David Beckham

David Beckham says England’s World Cup qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday is “not about revenge”. Beckham was part of the side that faced Croatia on their last visit to Wembley in 2007, when a 3-2 victory for Slaven Bilic’s side meant England missed out on a place at Euro 2008.

Beckham, though, insists the squad are focused only on the future. “The game on Wednesday is not about revenge,” he said. “Yes, it was a tough time for the players, for everyone involved in the national team and the fans. But the most important thing is that we go into the game knowing if we win it we are in the World Cup so thoughts of revenge are a long way away.” [...]

“I have had lower moments in an England shirt,” he said, “but when you lose a game as important as that, which means so much to everybody, it hits you hard as a player. Everyone was upset in the dressing room but we have got over that as a squad, a team and a nation.” Keep reading

Beckham targets active role at London Games in 2012

David Beckham is hoping to play a more active role at London 2012 than as ‘mere’ event ambassador but that depends on the political to-ing and fro-ing between FIFA and IOC over the rules and regulations governing the Olympic football tournament then.

Beckham, still a member of England’s senior World Cup squad, has indicated that he would like to be part of the Olympic football effort either as a player or on the coaching staff.

He would be 37 by the summer of 2012 so his only faint hope of playing would be if the international football federation decides to maintain a permission for each nation to include three players over the age-limit of 23.

Beckham, born and brought in east London in Leystonstone, said: “I was was very proud to play a part in bringing the Olympics to London. It was such a great thrill when we were awarded them in Singapore in 2005 so to go on to be a part of 2012 itself would be just terrific.

“I would certainly love to be involved with the GB football team. Obviously, I would be very much an ‘older’ player by then but I definitely want to be involved there in some capacity.” Keep reading

David on Ellen
Here’s a little bit about David’s appearance on Ellen this week!

NEW Galleries!
Lotsa stuff for you to see. :-)
David on The Ellen Degeneres Show
David Training with England
David at Slovenia Match
David’s Press Conference