LONDON, July 14, (AFP): David Beckham admits England’s players must take the blame for the team’s woeful performance at the World Cup.
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder Beckham had a close-up view of England’s lacklustre efforts in South Africa as a member of Fabio Capello’s backroom staff.
After limping through their group with one win from three matches against the United States, Algeria and Slovenia, England slumped to an embarrassing 4-1 defeat against old rivals Germany in the second round.
Capello’s tactics were widely criticised as England crashed out, but Beckham, who was unable to play in the tournament due to an Achilles injury, watched all four of England’s matches from the bench and he believes it is the team’s underachieving stars who were the problem.
“He (Capello) did everything that he could have done,” Beckham told a Yahoo webchat on Wednesday.
“He prepared us right. He worked the players to the right amount and he set everything up for the players, but obviously the players know it was disappointing.
“We didn’t perform and as players you know that - you know when you don’t perform, you know when you don’t play well.
“The manager can do so much and then it’s down to the players. The players go on to the pitch and they know if they don’t perform they don’t win games.
“The players are honest about that but it’s not about individuals, it’s not about how individuals play - it’s about how we played as a team. It’s a cliche but you win as a team and you lose as a team.”
After the pain of missing out on a fourth World Cup appearance, LA Galaxy star Beckham admits he would love to make amends by representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 - by which time he will be 37.
Beckham was an ambassador for the British bid to stage the Games, which will be held near his birthplace in London’s East End, and he is already dreaming of playing in the event.
“If I’m still playing and I’m still considered to make a difference to the team I’d love to, but if not then I’m definitely going to be there anyway,” Beckham said.
“It’s the east end of London — it’s on my manor. To be part of getting the Olympics to the east end of London... it’s one of the best experiences that I’ve ever experienced.”
Meanwhile, Beckham insists he has no intention of becoming a manager when he retires from playing.
After an Achilles injury ended his dream of playing in a fourth World Cup, Beckham spent the tournament in South Africa as part of England’s backroom staff and sat on the bench throughout the team’s ill-fated campaign.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder gave advice to members of the squad and acted as a buffer between coach Fabio Capello and his players.
It has been suggested Beckham could take charge of England in the future but the 35-year-old has never been tempted by the thought of going into management and he has once again ruled out that option.
“I must admit it’s something I’ve never been interested in,” he said in a webchat with Yahoo on Wednesday. “It’s not a passion of mine to be a manager of a football team.
“I’m passionate about the game and being there and obviously I was wearing the suit so people have looked and thought I could be going into that.”
“I spoke to James (Milner), Shaun (Wright-Phillips), Aaron (Lennon)... all the right-sided players. I spoke to all the players. If there’s anything that needed saying from the manager of the players, that was kind of my role.
“I enjoyed that but, coaching-wise, I love coaching kids - that’s one of the reasons I have my academies - the children, I love seeing their faces when they’re kicking the ball around. I love the enthusiasm, the honesty — that’s one of the things I love doing.
“But coaching a team, being a manager, at this point in my career I don’t want to do that and in the future I don’t think that will happen either.”
Beckham also revealed he is ahead of schedule as he tries to return to action after injuring his Achilles during a loan spell at AC Milan in April.
It had been feared he would be out until November — therefore missing the entire Major League Soccer season but he nows hopes to be back in action by the start of September.
“When I had the surgery, the surgeon gave me a schedule,” Beckham said. “I’ve got a week now before it’s four months and then I’m allowed to run, but I’ve been running for the last 10 days.
“I’m ahead of schedule, it’s going well. I should be back in a month and a half.”