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Wednesday, 10 April, 2002, 21:56 GMT 22:56 UK
England's World Cup dream over?
England captain David Beckham may miss the World Cup after breaking a bone in his foot.
Will his loss cost England and Man Utd dear?
Beckham was injured after just 16 minutes of his side's Champions League quarter-final against Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday. The injury will rule him out of the Champions League semi-final and all of United's remaining Premiership fixtures. He could be sidelined for up to eight weeks, so with England's World Cup campaign kicking off on 2 June, his participation in Korea and Japan is also in doubt. So how did you feel when you saw the tackle? Can Man Utd cope without him? And what of England's World Cup hopes?
I sincerely hope Beckham is not out for the World Cup, but if he is could you please tell me what my chances are of replacing him?
I feel for David, not just because of the impact on England or Man Utd but because he does not deserve such a misfortune at this time. Having been an exemplary captain for England he is the last player who should be the victim of a rash tackle. I believe in miracles and I pray for his speedy recovery.
The possibility of losing Beckham is a bitter blow, but let's not get too carried away with the loss of only one player. Dyer (if fit) could take his place on the right, Ashley Cole could play in left midfield (with Bridge at left back) and with Gerard and Scholes in the centre, you've still got a midfield to be reckoned with!
I see from Martin James' comments (below) that I'm not the only one to feel that the two two-footed tackles on Beckham were done deliberately to injure him. Both Deportivo players should have been red-carded and it's a disgrace to the game that they weren't!
Beckham's best reply will be to get back for the World Cup and show them what a world-class player he is. Hopefully, this will be the motivation he needs to fight his way back for fitness. Were he not to make it, it will be an undoubted loss to the team and to the spectacle of the World Cup!
Why all the fuss? At the end of the day he's an overpaid fop who spends his life kicking around an inflated pig's bladder! I could understand this fuss if he was trying to get world peace, feed the starving or even stop football hooligans. But let's grow up here. In the scheme of things, it's not that important - it's only a game after all.
People forget that at the last World Cup, France were without Zidane - their most important player - for several games because he got sent off. Yet team ethics pulled them through. If England are a truly professional side, they should have the same attitude and not rely on any one individual.
Well done the English media for yet again whipping up an anti argentine conspiracy out of thin air. To suggest that either Argentina or Deportivo had some sort of hidden agenda is plainly ludicrous.
Also, I heard some clueless radio D.J suggesting that players who injure others should be banned until the other player recovers. If that were the case we would be without Gerrard, Keane, Vieira and half of the Premiership for most of the season! I feel very sorry for David Beckham, but the fact that he was tackled by an Argentine provides ignorant football "supporters" with a convenient excuse to go on the rampage again.
Moreover, should England not do well in the World Cup, the media can point fingers to Beckham's absence, instead of to the team - very English. I think the English media should get a grip of themselves and this whole Beckham nonsense. He has only broken a bone in his foot; it isn't as if his career is over. I agree with Sir Alex Ferguson when he said it was a bigger blow for Man Utd.
After all, they have more to lose - it isn't as if England will actually win the World Cup. I also think it is a slight on the rest of the players in the England squad to suggest that they are nothing without him.
When I heard the news about the foot, I went numb. I instantly thought of my own feet, trying to imagine what it must feel like to break, or even fracture, my second metatarsal bone. In this small way, I found that I could relate to what David's family must be going through. David's foot had given itself totally to its country. These younger footballers don't possess that sense of duty to their country that David's foot and, in particular, his wonderful second metatarsal bone, had. I remember when England became embroiled in the Balkans conflict and, more recently, the war in Afghanistan. David's foot had the opportunity to leave the country. Instead, it stayed here and set an example to us all with its radiant second metatarsal bone.
My thoughts are with Victoria and Brooklyn at this difficult time. God bless.
I think what's of far greater concern is the lack of form of Michael Owen. Beckham is a fine player, but our midfield is one of our relatively stronger areas. Scholes and Gerrard have both played at the highest level in Europe with a great deal of success.
To replace Beckham, we have a Champions League winner, who often plays that position - Owen Hargreaves. Maybe England will take a punt and throw in someone like Joe Cole.
England haven't the slightest chance of lifting the World Cup, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with Mr Beckham being fit or otherwise. I believe a couple of other teams taking part are far, far better than England. For Scots, the World Cup will be great to watch, as laughing at English commentators moaning is a national pastime up here.
To all you doom and gloom merchants, it's not the end of the world. Let's not start making excuses before we even get to Japan/Korea. Sure, we might miss him but it may also produce another 'star' like Joe Cole coming into his own.
Why is this story getting so much coverage? There are much worse things going on in the world.
How pathetic! David Beckham breaks a bone in his foot and it makes headline news! Big deal. If he's fit, he's fit. If not, we'll use someone else. Yes, he's a good player, but if people thought he would win us the World Cup, they are mistaken. Grow up people! It's just a game of football.
I woke up this morning and watched the news to find David Beckham's injury made the main headlines. I initially thought the guy's career was over the way everyone was reacting. Get a grip of yourselves - if England are such a good team then I'm sure you can cope without him.
Also, the treatment of Duscher is a disgrace. The guy made a rash challenge, but so has every player in their career. And to suggest he done it because he's Argentinean is madness - I can remember when Beckham was committing rash tackles on a weekly basis!
Whilst it is undoubtedly a big blow, it could be worse - it could be Michael Owen. Owen is our only world-class striker, and if he was injured it would be a bigger blow. At least we have other excellent midfielders in Scholes, Gerrard and Dyer to come in.
This is a great disappointment, but I think England will still do well. Kieron Dyer or Darren Anderton (although both equally injury-prone) should provide adequate cover for at least three or four matches. They are players who have proven qualities at international level. Besides, who's to say that Beckham won't be back for the quarters?
England are a strong nation, and if they rise to the occasion in Japan I am sure that we still have got a good chance with or without Beckham. Losing Beckham was a big blow, but with the likes of Gerrard, Scholes and Dyer we still have a midfield to be feared. If we all get behind the boys I am sure we will do well!
Football is a team game. Whilst Beckham is arguably England's star player, England are good enough to progress to the later stages of the tournament. Hopefully Beckham will be fit when he is most needed. Bring it on.
One word sums it up - gutted. But I reckon Sven will take him to the World Cup, and he will play some part from the second round onwards if we get that far. It's down to the likes of Dyer, Owen, and Scholesy to pull us through the First Stage now. But as one door closes for one player - another one opens for someone else...
Our World Cup is over before it starts. For those that think that England are not a one man team, I was at Old Trafford for the game against Greece and I can confirm that we are a one man team. Coincidence that Duscher was Argentinean? Beckham is England's top man and he is out of the early stages of the World Cup. Even if he does recover in seven or eight weeks, his lack of match fitness would mean that Duscher has succeeded in his quest.
He is as important to England as Keane is to the Republic of Ireland. Let's wish them both well in their recoveries.
One player, no matter how good, does not make a team. England will miss him, but we have adequate cover. It's controversial, but how about a player in better form than Beckham, who takes a mean free kick and scores goals from open play too? Lee Bowyer, perhaps?
Since the 5-1 result against a poor German side, we haven't been at all impressive anyway. With Owen right off form, and England having no better players than we had at the last World Cup, our chances were never that good. I will be surprised if we qualify through the group stage, as Beckham's free-kicks look like our best chance of scoring! Some of the reactions on this page are astounding! Henry (below), what the hell are you talking about? When we lost Robson in Italia 90 we went on to reach the semi-final! No one expected Gazza and Platt to be the stars of that World Cup and they were. Before 1966 Geoff Hurst wasn't even expected to play and we all know what happened.
We still have a very good team with at least four world-class players and could still have a good World Cup. We are not a one-man team, and although the loss of Beckham will hamper us, we can still pull through.
I've seen Beckham himself commit worse fouls, so you have to take punishment as well as give it. He's also been very lucky with injuries, so he was due one at some point.
It's a shame that this will almost certainly keep him out of the World Cup, but if it was anyone else that had been injured, there would not have been anywhere near the publicity generated. But the Beckham name sells newspapers, and I think that's what the tabloids will miss most this summer.
I cannot believe the half-baked fools who think just because one player is injured we have no chance in the World Cup. What utter rubbish. Beckham is a great captain and an inspiration, but we have other world- class players too.
I predict we will have our best World Cup since 1966. I am not certain we will win it, but if we play positively I think we should at least reach the final.
Don't worry Argentina, there's plenty of time for a Premiership clogger to take out Veron, and maybe a kindly soul in Italy can help out with Batistuta. Deportivo are a disgrace, and only poor refereeing has allowed them to get away with it. Beckham will be there, it has been pre-ordained!
Sven had better wrap Mr Kieron Dyer in cotton wool! Dyer is the only ready replacement for the 'irreplaceable' Beckham. If we do get through the qualifying group, don't rule out a fit and ready Beckham coming back and taking us all the way! Get well David, VERY soon.
England will definitely recover. If Germany did without Jeremies, Scholl, Heinrich & Deisler, why not England?
I think the tackle made by Duscher was an absolute disgrace. Both Fifa and the FA should look into the incident and act accordingly, as it is clear to all that the Deportivo players were out from the start to injure Beckham.
Filling Beckham's shoes may be a case of replacing the irreplaceable, but if there are any crumbs of comfort to be drawn then it is surely the fact that someone now has a great chance to stake a name for himself. It's doom and gloom today - but it's wrong to write the whole team off just yet before a ball's been kicked, even though they admittedly face one of the toughest groups.
The real problem is not whether Beckham can play in the World Cup - I think he will recover in time to start against Sweden. But he's going to be targeted by players even more so now he has an obvious Achilles heel. He will have had little or no opportunity to build up the muscle strength in his foot to protect the weakened bone, and the real miracle would be if he lasted the tournament without a repeat injury.
Sadly, I don't believe there is another England player capable of leading the team the way he does. It's not just his skill but his inspirational drive that is crucial to the team.
France have lost Pires (aother great player) but you don't hear people saying that their World Cup chances are dead. England, I'm afraid, don't have the quality in depth to cover Beckham's loss. Let's pray that he recovers quickly!
Beckham's passing abilities and free kicks are second to none. He is a world-class player. England will miss him dearly. Let's pray for his swift recovery. The World Cup deserves him.
One glimmer of hope is that this has happened well before the World Cup. England can now make plans to cope with the loss and hopefully minimise the impact.
Pick him anyway - even if there's only a slight chance he'll make it. England have no one to replace him - he is a class above the rest and his absence takes the sting out of England's attack - great news for Argentina et al.
Why the fuss about Beckham? Granted, he can centre a ball from the dead ball position and can score from direct free kicks - a virtue of a kind, I suppose. Otherwise, he is a very ordinary player who has been outrageously overrated for years.
Beckham's injury is a blow to football. When is Fifa going to take adequate measures to protect players from such violence. Last night's tackle was a disgrace (be it premeditated or not) and Duscher should have been sent off without hesitation.
Look what happened to Van Basten. Football should not be deprived of the skills of any player through the lunacay or callousness of another.
Our hopes of winning the World Cup now look very distant. Beckham's injury may well have cost England dearly. We can only wish him a full and speedy recovery.
I am sad as an Argentine to see Beckham gone for the Argentina v England game, as this will be the perfect excuse for England when they lose.
I think Beckham will make the World Cup! This is a story that's just too good for the media to resist and there'll be the usual will he/won't he play hype and it'll make for a very exciting build up to the tournament.
All my French colleagues at worked breathed a sigh of relief when we saw Beckham go down. The French team does not want to have to play against England with Beckham as captain in Korea. I think that sums up this disaster...
The two late, disgraceful tackles made by the Deportivo players on David Beckham raises questions of intent. The fact they have now removed one of the world's finest talents from the World Cup (barring a miraculous recovery) is a loss to all football supporters around the world.
Beckham is the driving force behind the England team. He motivates everyone if things are getting tough. He could be the key to success in the World Cup. It's no coincidence that an Argentine player crippled him.
Diego Tristan had a go in the first match, and now Duscher has finished the job. Should make their life easier in the Group of Death. They've killed one of ours already.
ONE player does not make a team. All this fuss over the loss of one player is rubbish. What about the other 10 players? Once again the media in this country show lack of respect. Sure, Beckham will be missed if he does not go to the World Cup but it is a team game.
That's it. It is all over. I don't think I'll even bother with the World Cup now. England had one chance of winning in Japan and South Korea - and it rested with the captain. Even if he does recover in time to make the starting line-up for the first game, he will be horribly ring-rusty and in no shape to lead England to glory. The only hope is that the team can carry him to the latter stages of the tournament, where he will be match-fit and ready to make an impact.
I don't think they can do that.
I'm not so sure the loss of Beckham is as great as people make out - to Manchester United or England. United have the troops to cover the loss, and it's nearly the end of the season anyway.
He hardly covered himself in glory in France98 and I think the best defenders around - which you don't get in England - will know how to deal with him when the time comes.
Beckham is a great loss for England, and our World Cup hopes. He is not such a big loss for Man Utd, who have a squad big enough to cover for his absence. However, England still have Michael Owen, who I feel is England's best player, and the biggest threat for goals. Beckham led us to World Cup qualification, but as I recall, Owen was injured in the game against Greece, and England struggled, needing Beckham to rescue them. In the two games prior to the Greece game, England won comfortably, with Owen scoring four times over the two games.
With Owen playing in the World Cup, there may still be hope for England. I hope Beckham can recover though, as he is an influential figure, and a captain marvel for England recently.
England without him is good, but to win the World Cup you have to be amazing. Beckham is just that.
Man Utd can cover the loss of Beckham, but England can't. Beckham is a rare talent and the World Cup will be poorer for his absence.
David Beckham is going to be vital to us, if we are to stand any chance of glory in Japan and Korea. I think Mr. Eriksson should take a chance on him and still take him if he is not a 100% fit by the time the Argentina game comes around. Let's just hope David Beckham can make a miracle recovery!
It's absolutely devastating. We saw how he has single-handedly got us to the World Cup, and he doesn't deserve this. I hate to say it, but we have no chance now of getting beyond the second round. The whole thing reminds me of Robson at the start of Italia '90, the loss of captain marvel!
It's really sad Beckham will be out for the rest of the season and possibly the World Cup. This has been his best scoring season and he has been a great leader for club and country. United and England will sorely miss him, but certainly not my country Nigeria! At least he won't be available to deliver those deadly balls against us in the World Cup!
To be fair, Man Utd were (and still are) third favourites for the Premiership prior to the loss of both Beckham and Keane. It's Arsenal's title to lose, especially if they slip up against United. However, I feel that where this injury could and probably will hurt most is the impact upon England's World Cup prospects later this year. There is little doubt that with Owen out-of-sorts Beckham is clearly the team's best player. In an already extremely difficult group, England suddenly find themselves in more bother.
Can they pull the fat from the fire without him? I'd like to think so, but frankly, no.
Who cares about Man Utd, what matters is if Beckham is fit for the World Cup. Have we got a player of his quality to cover, I don't think so. Geoff Hurst states in his book that England won the cup in '66 because they had world class players in the team. We have them now but if Beckham is taken away we will miss a crucial part of the team.
Beckham is targeted simply because of his wonderful skill on the ball, and England will miss him if he cannot make some of the games. Who else has his quality of play down the wing?
As for Manchester United, I think the strength of their squad will be able to cover for his absence, especially the way Veron, Scholes, Butt, Giggs and Gary Neville are playing in the midfield role at the moment.
England have to take a chance on Beckham. He is out for eight weeks. He misses the Sweden game, hopefully recovers in time to play against Argentina. Even a fitness lacking Beckham is better than a fully fit anyone else. If not, Dyer (if fit!) on right and A. Cole, W. Bridges on left.
I have tickets for the England Paraguay match next Wednesday! Any chance of a refund?
I just hope Beckham recovers for England. They have a great team with his leadership and a good chance to do well. Without him it makes things that much harder, especially since Sven was building around him.
Man United don't have anything to worry about. It's England that matters. This is a huge blow to Sven. I know that Beckham is not the only good player on the team but this is depressing.
On a better note, at least we know he's not going to be injured a month from World Cup. He can sit back on the couch with Posh, work on his hairdo and think about how nice it's going to be when he sees Argentine players crying when they lose to England!
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