England, Europe, Features, Ian John, Regions POSTS

Beckham on the Brink of History

Published by Ian John on March 28, 2009

Former England captain David Beckham today stands on the brink of English football history. If he plays any part in either todays game against Slovakia, or Wednesday night’s clash against the Ukraine, then old Goldenballs himself will overtake the late, great Sir Bobby Moore to become England’s most capped outfield player with 109 caps. Only Peter Shilton’s haul of 125 caps now standing between him and English football immortality.

Shilton’s twenty year England career and 125 cap total is often seen as almost unbeatable. The fact of the matter is that Shilton could easily have earned enough caps to reach the 200 cap barrier. Shilton shared most of the England goalkeeping duties from the late 1970′s to mid 1980′s with former Liverpool and Tottenham star Ray Clemence, who himself earned 61 caps. Add to that the caps won by the likes of Joe Corrigan (9) and Chris Woods (45) as well as several other keepers who earned a smattering of caps between them (Nigel Spink, Gary Bailey and Jimmy Rimmer for example) and it is not unfeasible to think that had Shilton been the only option during the period 1970-1990, he would possibly hold the record for international caps (certainly for a top footballing nation) that would never be broken.

That said, Beckham’s achievement should not be overlooked. Even in the modern game, where internationals are played more frequently and the major finals have more games played in them, the achievement of earning 100 caps for a country the quality of England is not something to be taken lightly. Beckham has not only joined the ranks of English soccer immortals who achieved the honour of 100 caps, but now he has the chance to surpass them.

Beckham made his England debut against Moldova in 1997 after becoming a key member of ‘Fergie’s Fledglings’ at Manchester United. Despite impressing for United, Beckham’s performances for England, under then manager Glenn Hoddle, were a tad erratic at times. Barely a year after his debut Beckham went from hero to villain in the space of just two games. Initially the hero for a fantastic free kick scored against Colombia in the final group game of the 1998 World Cup Finals,he soon became the villain for his petulent sending off for flicking a kick at Argentinian midfielder Diego Simeone. A sending off which many fans felt cost England the game.

Beckham was vilified on his return to England. Famously and somewhat distastefully, effigees of the player were burnt all over the country and he was roundly booed by fans across the length and breadth of England. However despite that constant abuse, Beckham the player knuckled down and began playing some of the best football of his career. The petulant boy had seemingly grown up into a far more mature man and as his form for United and England improved, so did his importance to both the teams. Nowhere more so was this evident than in the vital World Cup Qualifier against Greece at Old Trafford in 2001. A lacklustre England were set to lose at home to the Greeks, and miss out on automatic qualification for the finals, until a trademark injury time Beckham free kick rescued the team. While the free kick is rightly remembered for its brilliance, it was overshadowed by the all round performance of Beckham. Of all England’s players that day, he and he alone, put in the performance of a lifetime to drag England to the 2002 World Cup Finals in Japan and South Korea.

If Beckham’s rehabilitation in the eyes of England fans was confirmed after the 5-1 victory in Germany and the performance against Greece, it was taken to higher levels at the 2002 finals, when Beckham secured sweet revenge against Argentina, slotting home the penalty which beat the South American side and eventually saw them exit the competition at the first round stage.

Beckham continued to be crucial to the plans of the England team. His passing and crossing marked him out as a deadly weapon and he was frequently involved in England’s better play and goals. His set pieces are a nightmare for teams to defend against and it was marked that a large percentage of England’s goals over this period involved Beckham at some point. A trait that continues even to this day.

So while his legs may not be able to get him round the field as quickly as they used to, the vim and vigour of his performances perhaps on the wane, the mercurial skills Beckham still possesses still make him a viable threat for club and country. Milan recognised that fact bringing him back from Los Angeles to play a part in their league challenge this year.

He may not have lifted the World Cup like Sir Bobby Moore, but Beckham’s 109 caps are equally deserving of praise as Moore’s 108. The current crop of England stars will only fully realise Beckham’s footballing legacy to them and the importance he still holds in that squad, when the player decides to call it a day and retire from the international game.

Thankfully for Beckham, and for England, that still seems to be some way off as yet.

Achieving the 125 caps to catch Peter Shilton, now looks a real possibility.

Picture Credit : **Charlie.Kinross** at Flickr.com

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