Beckham stands by Seaman

England captain David Beckham has launched a stinging attack on the critics who will seek to make goalkeeper David Seaman a scapegoat following the side’s 2-1 World Cup quarter-final exit against Brazil today.

Five minutes into the second half Ronaldinho’s long-range free-kick caught Seaman off-guard and off his line and the ball crept over his head and dropped under the crossbar to put Brazil ahead after Rivaldo had equalised Michael Owen’s 23rd-minute opener.

The heart-breaking goal brought back terrible memories for the 38-year-old Seaman, who seven years ago in the last minute of Arsenal’s European Cup Winners’ Cup final was left hopelessly flapping at a 50-yard lob from Real Zaragoza midfielder Nayim which gave the Spanish side a 2-1 victory.

But Beckham has immediately leapt to the defence of the squad’s senior professional, saying both himself and coach Sven-Goran Eriksson have nothing but praise for everyone in the squad.

‘‘We are very proud of the team and the goalkeeper. People didn’t expected us to get through the first stages and it is a bonus to get this far.

‘‘If David Seaman is made a scapegoat it is an absolute disgrace.

‘‘He has been the best goalkeeper in the tournament.’’

And eluding to the treatment he received in Britain following his sending off against Argentina at the last World Cup in France, Beckham said: ‘‘If it happens next year when we are preparing for Portugal (the 2004 European Championships) something will have to be done.

‘‘It can’t keep happening to people.’’

England reserve goalkeeper David James defended Seaman’s performance, claiming Ronaldinho’s winning free-kick goal was a fluke.

‘‘There is no way he has gone to shoot there. It was a mis-hit,’’ said the West Ham stopper.

‘‘As a goalkeeper any goal that goes in, you are looking to blame yourself and if it happens to be a winner, especially in a tournament like this, is it going to be hard,

‘‘But he (David) fully justified his selection in this tournament. He has done well.’’

And Seaman also received the full backing of Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell, a second-half substitute for Owen, who also dismissed Ronaldinho’s free-kick as a freak strike.

‘‘We went out to a lucky goal. I think he was trying to cross it but I will have to see it on the telly,’’ he said.

‘‘We really believed we could have gone on to the final.

‘‘Seaman has been absolutely brilliant for England. He has been an object of inspiration for all the players and there is no blame on him. None of the players blame him.

‘‘We maybe took our foot off the pedal a bit. We tried to stick to our game plan but it didn’t work out for us on the day.’’