Beckham: I will play anywhere for my country

Beckham blues: The axed skipper is waiting for Steve McClaren's call
14 April 2012

David Beckham is ready to play in any position for England if Steve McClaren decides there is a way back for the former captain.

According to sources close to the 31-year-old midfielder, he was as devastated as his former team-mates after watching England lose to Croatia on television at his Madrid villa last Wednesday.

• England need Becks, says Wenger

Beckham has maintained a dignified silence throughout the clamour for his return following the 2-0 defeat.

"He does not want to put any extra pressure on the manager at this difficult time,' said the source.

"He will respect any decision Steve McClaren wishes to make regarding his England future but he will never lose the desire to pull on an England shirt. He still feels he could do a good job for England if the opportunity arose.

Meanwhile, Beckham's close friend Roberto Carlos believes his Real Madrid team-mate will sign a new contract that will keep him in the Spanish capital for at least another two years.

"We expect he will re-sign," he said. "He is training well and looks happy and is getting little by little back to where he was before."

Carlos likened Beckham's England rejection to his own experience with Brazil. "It is always the older players who take the blame,' he added. 'But everyone must take responsibility.

"I think David is relaxed. He is fine away from the pitch and I don't think he is worried."

Meanwhile, legendary Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski insisted last night that Paul Robinson should not be branded a clown — because that title should go to McClaren.

Brian Clough called Tomaszewski 'The Clown' before he pulled off a string of unorthodox saves to deny England qualification for the 1974 World Cup. But the Pole leapt to Robinson's defence last night in the wake of his error in Zagreb.

Tomaszewski said: "Robinson is no clown, he is the best goalkeeper in England and what happened was an accident. The real clown is Steve McClaren because he hasn't improved the atmosphere in the England camp since Sven Goran Eriksson left.

"What happened to Robinson is just typical of England's situation at the moment. There is no confidence or direction and that is when mistakes happen.

"But you can't blame Robinson. If faced with the same situation a hundred times, that wouldn't happen again. So don't laugh at him, there is only one 'Clown' in goalkeeping history and that was me."

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