Beckham refutes Moore comparison

England midfielder David Beckham last night equalled Bobby Moore’s record for caps by an outfield player – but he refuses to be compared to the country’s World Cup hero.

Beckham made his 108th cap with a second-half appearance in the 2-0 defeat to Spain at Sevilla’s Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, putting him level with Moore, who passed away in 1993.

“At the end of the day Bobby Moore won the World Cup and he’s icon around the world and especially in England,” said Beckham.

“No-one can be compared to Bobby Moore because he’s such a legend, he’s a player I will always look up to as our World Cup winner, our World Cup-winning captain.

“I’m just very honoured to be even be mentioned in the same breath as him.”

Beckham, 33, is determined to add to his tally and wants to complete a permanent move to AC Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy to give himself every chance of playing in the 2010 World Cup.

“I hope to keep on playing for my country. Of course I do,” he said.

“Fitness-wise Milan’s done me the world of good. I’m a lot fitter than I was a few months back and even in the month and a half I’ve been there my fitness has gone up 100%. That’s the biggest thing. And I’m enjoying my club football which is great.”

Beckham, who was dropped from the squad during Steve McClaren’s reign, added: “At one time I didn’t think I was going to make it to 95 or 96 to be honest. I missed 11 games in that period and it was disappointing.

“But I’m glad to be back in it now and I’m enjoying it.”

Goalkeeper David James led the tributes to the former England skipper, who could get close to Peter Shilton’s 125-cap record if he stays in the team.

“Hats off to him,” James said. “I use him often as an example for younger players and younger kids who want to become players as a guy who is dedicated to his profession.

“To equal the record, he is obviously a very proud man and I am very proud as a fellow team-mate just to be part of the match he did that in. Hopefully if he continues his form, he will break the record which I know he wants to do.”

David Villa and Fernando Llorente scored the goals to defeat England and Beckham also picked up a late yellow card for dissent.

“Why would you want to focus on that rather than the 108 caps?” Beckham said.

Frank Lampard feels England will learn from the defeat.

He said: “Spain are a very good team. They are probably the top team around at the minute.

“They played very well. The way they keep the ball, the they move it very quick is a bit of a lesson for us. We are improving and last night will be a lesson for us that we need to improve a little but more.”