Beckham up for physical challenge

Beckham was in confident mood ahead of the quarter-final

David Beckham insists England are more than capable of dealing with a physical match against Portugal in Saturday's quarter-final match in Gelsenkirchen.

England have struggled at times with the heat in Germany, while Portugal's second round match against Holland saw 16 yellow cards and four reds.

But the captain said: "We're English and, typically, we love physical games.

"We relish a high tempo with tackles flying in so, if that's the way the game turns out, we will relish it."

News conference: David Beckham

Another late afternoon kick-off will ensure that England will play in temperatures forecast to reach over 80F (27C).

And, after a series of poor second-half performances, an improved display in the latter stages in the second-round win over Ecuador was overshadowed by Beckham being physically ill on the pitch.

However, the midfielder said: "We've always said we can't use excuses, and we can't blame the heat for poor performances.

Being the first English player to score in three consecutive World Cups and that was a big thing for me David Beckham

"Physically we have struggled at tournaments and in the past couple of games in this tournament we have struggled in the heat.

"But it is up to us to overcome that, there are no excuses now. We're confident we can deal with anything thrown our way."

But he played down fears that Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo will employ a strict approach to avert the kind of play-acting and fouls that marred Portugal's win over Holland.

Elizondo has sent Beckham off in his career, in the World Club Championship game against Necaxa in 2000, while he has issued 16 yellow cards and one red in his three World Cup games so far.

"In England against Portugal there are always things that happen in games.

It's always going to be fiery and it is up to us as players to keep our discipline.

"Sometimes it is difficult because you get frustrated and things happen, but you have to stay disciplined."

Beckham also revealed he was delighted to answer his critics with the winner against Ecuador, a spectacular free-kick.

He said: "It was one of my most special goals.

"It is always nice when you have had a certain amount of criticism, to score a goal that puts your country through to the quarter-finals.

"There was a lot of personal satisfaction with that goal. And being the first English player to score in three consecutive World Cups and that was a big thing for me as well."