Beckham hails fans' behaviour

David Beckham has saluted the England fans for playing their part in ensuring a trouble-free first half of the World Cup finals.

The violent and sometimes sickening scenes of riot police clashing with supporters on the streets of Belgium and Holland during Euro 2000 seem a million miles away.

And Beckham believes the feelgood factor in Japan and Korea is benefiting the game in persuading whole families to become interested in the sport.

The England skipper said: ‘‘It has been a great start to the competition and one of the best parts is that there hasn’t been any trouble. That’s the nice thing about it all.

‘‘Everyone is enjoying themselves in the stadiums and that is the important part of football because it did go out of football a little bit.

‘‘But what is happening over here is getting people back interested in the game - young kids, mums, dads, granddads and grandmothers - and that has to be so good.

‘‘Our fans have been superb and the actual support they have given us in the matches has also been fantastic and our fans seem to be virtually everywhere in the stadiums. It has been a great boost for us.’’

Rio Ferdinand echoed Beckham’s sentiments and said: ‘‘The fans seem to be behaving themselves 100%, which is brilliant for the country.’’

Beckham, who will lead England in today’s second phase match with Denmark in Niigata, believes the current finals have also been ‘‘very special’’ because of events on the field.

He said: ‘‘This has got to have been one of the most exciting and amazing starts ever to a World Cup with so many shock results and already two or three of the big nations like Argentina and France slipping up and going out.

‘‘With the two host nations also doing so well in their groups it makes it that extra bit special for everyone involved.’’