Veron warns Beckham wants revenge

Juan Sebastian Veron reckons England skipper and Manchester United team-mate David Beckham is relishing the chance to exact revenge on Argentina.

Beckham was sent off for kicking Diego Simeone in the last World Cup clash between the countries at France '98.

England, reduced to 10 men, crashed out of the tournament on penalties and Beckham was branded the villain.

Since then Beckham has become a national hero, his last-gasp free-kick earning England a place at the finals in Japan and South Korea.

And Veron is sure Beckham, who is battling to recover from a broken foot in time for England’s opener against Sweden in Saitama on Sunday, will be on a revenge mission when England and Argentina meet again in Sapporo on June 7.

‘‘I haven’t had a chance to talk to him but I know he has high hopes after 1998,’’ said Veron at Argentina’s J-Village World Cup camp.

‘‘He knows it’s a special match.’’