England: David Beckham

Should David Beckham lead England out to face Argentina on the greatest stage of all on June 7 the Manchester United superstar will have come full circle.

Beckham - despite the charm offensive by his advisers and his appearances on Parkinson - is still regarded by many as the man responsible for England’s exit from France 98, his country’s hopes following him off the field on that crazy night in St Etienne.

As he struggled to cope with the nationwide campaign of vilification, the Manchester United midfielder retreated to the sanctuary of his beloved Old Trafford.

Alex Ferguson put a protective arm around his star and shielded him from the storm raging outside.

Ferguson helped Beckham gradually rebuild his England reputation - how fitting then that it should be he who grabbed the last-gasp goal against Greece which sent his country to next year’s finals at his own theatre of dreams.

Even Beckham admitted it was hard to take in after the nadir of St Etienne.

‘‘The England captaincy was the biggest thing to happen to me last year, and it still amazes me every time I think how I was treated just a few years ago,’’ he said.

‘‘If someone had said in 1998 after my sending-off in the World Cup that I would be leading my country out within three years I would have laughed in their face.’’

Unfortunately for Beckham the joke has been on him most of the time, and making fun of him has become a new national pastime.

We have all had a chuckle at his expense at one time or another, and he has replaced Irishmen as the butt of every comedian’s jokes.

He is an easy target and by his own admission he is no brain of Britain.

He sets himself up for a fall by wearing some outlandish clothes.

His voice too gives every impersonator the length and breadth of the country plenty of ammunition.

Yet it is not so easy to ridicule Beckham the footballer, and the transformation in him since he became captain has been marked.

Gone is the petulant, immature Beckham who flicked his boot at Argentina’s Diego Simeone to earn that red card.

In his place is a new, controlled and composed player who can take almost anything in his stride ﷓ including the sickening abuse he has to contend with on a constant basis during games.

The change happened almost as soon as England’s then caretaker coach Peter Taylor handed him the captain’s armband for the friendly against Italy in Turin last November.

Beckham did not react when he was walloped by Italy’s Gennaro Gattuso and days later he just shrugged his shoulders when he was pelted with coins by Manchester City fans during the derby at Maine Road.

The 26-year-old claims being England captain has made him more conscious of his behaviour.

‘‘I have a bit more responsibility being captain of England,’’ he said.

‘‘I think there are going to be people watching everything I do anyway, wherever I go.

‘‘All that matters is that I can deal with it and I think I have done a good job of keeping my cool.’’

As well as controlling his temper, Beckham has progressed as a player with England and after managing just one goal during his international career, he rattled in three in the last four games of the 2000-01 international season.

Finally he is delivering on a consistent basis on the international stage.

‘‘During my career I have always liked to have new ambitions and goals,’’ he said.

‘‘Leading my country is something which has helped me to progress as a person and as a player.’’

Now things have gone to plan Beckham has set his sights on higher goals.

‘‘I cannot help but look ahead and imagine the day when I could step up to collect the World Cup for England,’’ he said.

‘‘If that sounds premature then so be it, but I always believe in setting myself high ambitions.’’

Beckham’s latest ambition is to be fit for England’s World Cup opener against Sweden on June 2 as he recovers from a broken metatarsal bone in his left foot suffered in Champions League action for Manchester United.

With each new ambition he accomplishes he drags English football higher up the international stage, closer to the ultimate goal.

David Beckham has repaid the nation many times over - and who would bet against him having the last say at high noon in Yokohama on June 30.