Champions League: Duscher: Beckham injury was an 'accident'

The Argentinian whose two-footed lunge may have ended David Beckham’s World Cup dream has described the incident as ‘‘unfortunate’’.

Deportivo La Coruna’s Pedro Duscher, whose 19th-minute tackle in Manchester United’s Champions League quarter-final victory has left the England skipper with a broken bone in his foot, did however suggest reaction to the injury would inevitably be overblown.

He said: ‘‘Because it’s David Beckham and because he is a great player everything is bigger.

‘‘The media and the public give too much importance to the things that happen around him.

‘‘It was unfortunate and I can honestly say it was an accident. I went for the ball,’’ he added in The Daily Telegraph.

Beckham has been ruled out of action for six to eight weeks making him a genuine doubt for England's World Cup campaign, which kicks off in seven-and-a-half weeks against Sweden on June 2.

United officials feared the worst at the time and the extent of the injury was revealed after the game by Ferguson, who confirmed he was ‘‘doubtful’’ for the World Cup.

Duscher was fortunate to escape a straight red card - though he was later dismissed for a second bookable offence- Ferguson refused to condemn him.

‘‘Games of football are about tackles and I think the player maybe had to go for it,’’ he said.

And Depor coach Javier Irureta sympathised with Beckham and insisted he had not sent his players out to injure him.

‘‘We didn’t single Beckham out for special treatment,’’ he said. ‘‘Last week it was Diego Tristan and that’s not his style.

‘‘Both incidents were very unfortunate and I hope that David is back figuring for Manchester United on the field of play.

‘‘I hope he recovers from it quickly and I feel sorry for what has happened.’’