Seaman’s sad Sayonara

By Mark Bradley, Shizuoka

ENGLAND captain David Beckham believes it will be ‘‘an absolute disgrace’’ if David Seaman is made the scapegoat for yesterday’s World Cup quarter-final exit to Brazil.

Four years ago in France, it was Beckham who was pilloried following his red card against Argentina, shouldering the blame for England’s harrowing second-round exit.

Beckham is now firmly standing by Seaman, who was in tears after the final whistle, as he said: ‘‘If anyone tries to make a scapegoat out of David then it will be an absolute disgrace because I think he has been the best goalkeeper in this tournament.

“The goal was not his fault. It was a fluke. It was a cross that ended up being a goal, so as I said it will be a dis-grace if he is made the scapegoat because he has had a world class tournament.’’

David James is convinced Seaman will have the resolve to see him through any flak which may fly his way upon England’s return home.

James, who has been chastised and ridiculed for many errors during his own career but has always bounced back, said: ‘‘David was inconsolable after the game.

‘‘To be fair to him, and looking on the replay, I don’t think the guy (Ronaldinho) has intended to do what he has done. It’s one of those things, unfortunately.’’

Asked whether he hoped Seaman would not be treated as badly as Beckham, James then added: ‘‘I don’t think so, but then that will be dictated by the media won’t it?

‘‘He has had a good tournament and he has made vital saves in other games. I think he has justified his selection.

‘‘If you take into consideration what he has done in other games, he is experienced enough to get over it. He has strength of character to do so.’’

The 38-year-old Arsenal keeper, who was, in reality, simply caught out by a freak mishit cross, felt the need to make a public apology shortly afterwards only to break down in tears a second time. Seaman declared; ‘‘It’s very hard to take.

That’s just life for a goalkeeper. I just want to say I’m sorry to all the fans, sorry to the people I’ve let down today.

‘‘That’s just the way it goes. I can only blame myself. It’s a free-kick that’s a long way out. I was expecting a cross and I’m sure that he meant to cross it.

‘‘But he’s mishit it and I’ve misread it and it’s a goal, and it’s got to go down as a goalkeeping error.

‘‘My main thing is that I just want to say sorry to the fans, who have been absolutely fantastic.

They’ve just been encouraging me, saying ‘just forget it, you’ve kept us in this tournament’. ‘‘It’s just so hard, guys.......’’ With that, Seaman broke off in mid-sentence and traipsed disconsolately out of the stadium.

However, manager Sven Goran Eriksson was quick to join Beckham and the rest of the squad in rallying around the experienced goalkeeper.

Asked how mistaken it would be for fans to treat Seaman just like Beckham four years earlier, Eriksson insisted: ‘‘That would be very wrong. Absolutely not.

‘‘If you should kill mentally every player who makes a mistake, you wouldn’t have many players in the squad for the next time.

‘‘I mean, it was a lucky goal for Ronaldinho. Whatever he says, I’m sure he wanted to cross the ball.

‘‘David did a very good tournament. He shouldn’t be upset but I can under-stand that he is. I tried to talk to him myself. Unfortunately, it’s normal to feel like that. It will stay for a while but then it has to go away. He shouldn’t blame himself.

‘‘Mistakes happen in football and you can’t blame yourself or him for that. He saved us many times during the qualifying games and at this tournament.’’

England had taken the lead on 23 minutes when Michael Owen struck his second goal of the tournament but they were pegged back on the stroke of half-time by Rivaldo’s equaliser.

Ronaldinho then struck with his fortuitous free-kick shortly after the break following a rash foul by Paul Scholes.

Defender Rio Ferdinand insisted: ‘‘It was a freak goal. I think he meant to cross it.

‘‘I was in the drug testing area with him after the game and I asked him whether he meant it and he just started laughing. It wasn’t the best way to go out but I don’t think there is a good way.’’

Brazil were reduced to 10 men for the final 32 minutes as Ronaldinho was then harshly sent off for a studs-first tackle on Danny Mills.

The Leeds full-back revealed: ‘‘All I know is that when I cleared the ball, the fellow has caught me. You just have to let the referee deal with it.’’

England were nevertheless unable to break down the Brazilian defence thereafter and Eriksson finally tasted defeat for the first time in his 11th competitive game in charge of the English national team.

‘‘I think it was a missed opportunity to reach the semi-finals as this was a good chance to beat Brazil,’’ admitted the Swede, who wished his side had shown more patience and imagination against 10 men.

‘‘But congratulations to Brazil as they are a very good football team. I hope they can reach the final and maybe they can now win it now.

‘‘We made two small mistakes but that happens in football. I have no regrets.’’