Beckham still hopes for England recall

WC Qualifiers

Thursday 4th December 2008

Beckham still hopes for England recall

David Beckham reiterated his desire to continue playing for England prompted his forthcoming loan switch to AC Milan.

This was after arriving in New Zealand for the Los Angeles Galaxy's exhibition clash with an Oceania All-Stars side

The 33-year-old, who made the journey to New Zealand with the Galaxy for the second successive year, will join the Italian side in January on a two-month deal prior to returning to California in March for the start of the Major League Soccer season.

Beckham was not named in England manager Fabio Capello's squad for last month's friendly in Germany, but he hopes to return to the international fold and add to his 107 caps in the planned fixture with Spain in February.

"It's important that I keep my fitness up and that's one of the reasons I'm going to Milan for a few months," Beckham said in Auckland today.

"I take each game as it comes. If I carry on to the World Cup, then great but I'm enjoying the qualifiers at the moment and enjoying the way the team are playing and the way they are bonding together."

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, who is England's third most capped player behind Peter Shilton and Bobby Moore, said he is aware that he is in the 'mature' stage of his career and said it is time to start thinking of the kind of person he wants to be remembered as.

"I've always wanted to be known as a hard worker on the field and successful," he said.

"I believe I've always worked hard in every game and every training session that I take part in."

Beckham believes Saturday's match at Mt Smart Stadium is important for the Galaxy.

"Some of the younger kids have not had much playing time, so it's a good opportunity for them to prove that they're good players and they're good Galaxy players," he said.

The Oceania All-Stars side includes former Holland and Tottenham midfielder Edgar Davids and former France international and Middlesbrough midfielder Christian Karembeu.

"Playing against Christian again will be great - a World Cup winner, it doesn't come any bigger than that in football," Beckham said.

"Of course, it will be great to play against Edgar as well. I'll try to stay away from him, because I know he likes to kick people.

"We've had a few battles in the past with Manchester United and Juventus."

(www.espnstar.com)