Beckham: Back from the shadowlands

Desperate McClaren turns to the man he hoped to manage without to save his career

By Steve Tongue, Football Correspondent

Sunday, 27 May 2007

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England will go back to the future at a gleaming new Wembley stadium on Friday with Steve McClaren hoping that David Beckham can help ensure he has a future as head coach that extends as far as next summer's European Championship finals.

Succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson after the World Cup, McClaren hoped to manage - in every sense - without Beckham, who was last seen in an England shirt weeping in the dug-out after collecting an injury during the quarter-final defeat by Portugal. But after a promising start against moderate opposition, the new regime have run into trouble and need a much-improved performance at home to Brazil in this week's friendly, followed by convincing victory in Estonia next Wednesday.

The younger brigade of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing have all failed to make an unanswerable case for inclusion as the genuine wide player England need, while the team and McClaren suffered abuse and criticism by drawing with Israel and even struggling to overcome Andorra. Meanwhile, Beckham has been playing so well for Real Madrid that he would have been recalled to the colours after the feeble performance in a home defeat by Spain in February but for suffering a knee injury.

Having won over Real's coach, Fabio Capello, and probably saved the Italian's job, his task now is to do the same for McClaren, who will face renewed calls for his dismissal if England do not win in Tallinn. In that case, Beckham's recall will be seen as the last throw of a desperate man rather than a generous attempt at reconciliation.

Speaking on home ground at Yarm yesterday, the one question the head coach did not seem prepared for was whether Beckham is any more effective now than he was when dropped immediately after a poor World Cup.

"It's a good question," McClaren said, without answer-ing it. "It's certainly not a panic measure. David's form is good and he can help us win in Estonia, that's why I've picked him. He brings experience, plus the way he's playing, his passing and crossing. He's passionate about playing for his country and I believe that's what we need at the moment.

He was disappointed about being left out but he's fought his way back and is hungry to play. I always plan for the long term but try to win in the short term."

He would not be drawn on whether long-term plans would include the possibility of Beckham moving closer to 100 caps by playing in next autumn's qualifying matches, some of which clash with LA Galaxy games. England are currently fourth in the group behind Croatia, Russia and Israel, all of whom have the opportunity to put more points on the board this weekend.

The team against Brazil should not differ significantly from the one in Tallinn, which is why Wayne Rooney - suspended in Estonia after collecting another foolish yellow card - has been left out altogether. Michael Owen returns, presumably with Peter Crouch alongside him, and sounding pleased by the prospect of having some Beckham crosses to feast on. "Everyone knows what David Beckham can do, he's a fantastic player," Owen said. "I follow his career and always watch Madrid and he's playing very, very well. He'll be welcomed back because he's a popular player among the lads."

Owen has not scored in four matches for Newcastle and the England B team since recovering from his serious World Cup injury, but he insisted: " I've been quite pleased with my touch and games will make me sharper. There's no doubt I'm back to full fitness, so goals will follow."

Beckham's return will allow Steven Gerrard to play centrally, where McClaren believes he can best influence the game. If Michael Carrick comes in for the injured Owen Hargreaves, however, and Joe Cole plays for only the second time this season, a choice will have to be made between Gerrard and Frank Lampard. The issue was sidestepped against Andorra when Lampard was left out with an alleged injured hand.

Although John Terry - who will keep the captaincy - and Rio Ferdinand are both fit, neither of the first-choice full-backs, Gary Neville and Ashley Cole, are available for either game. Wayne Bridge will play on the left, with Nicky Shorey as understudy, and Phil Neville, although unimpressive in the B International at Burnley on Friday, may edge out Jamie Carragher and Wes Brown.

The star turn at Turf Moor was David Bentley, the latest graduate from the Under-21 side, called up for the first time as a reward for an excellent season with Blackburn, whom he joined from Arsenal in order to secure regular first-team football. He does not lack confidence, either in his own ability or in English football, and sometimes sounds almost deliberately provocative.

"People always doubt you until you're given the opportunity," he said. "I feel I'm good enough and I've got the ability to step up. On paper we're better than any team in the world. If we play in a Premiership way, high intensity, Brazil can play all the football they like, we'll just run over the top of them."

For now, he is prepared to play second fiddle to Beckham, though Aaron Lennon's knee injury early on in the B game offers the possibility of a first cap as substitute at Wembley, where he scored for England's Under-21s in March.

Brazil should field a strong side including Kaka and Ronaldinho, who are ready to play in such a prestigious friendly despite having asked to be left out of this summer's Copa America tournament. It is a glamorous stage for what McClaren hopes will be nothing less than a renaissance after the " watershed" of the Andorra game. "That was a bad night," he said. "We've had meetings with the players since then and they're all upset at not creating a team the fans can be proud of. We know that, there's no heads in the sand.

"What we've seen since then and at Burnley is that the fans support England, and it's up to us to create a team they're proud of and who win matches."

Like Eriksson, however, he rarely seems to encounter criticism except when reading newspapers. "The reaction when I've been around the country I've received from fans has been fantastic," he said. "I don't want sympathy but the support has been very welcome and I know we'll get it right." Time to do so is running out fast, and it is appropriate that next Wednesday, 6 June, happens to be D-Day.

The History Game: The samba beat rings out down Wembley way

9 May 1956: England 4 Brazil 2

Stanley Matthews was outstanding in an eventful first meeting between the teams. England led 2-0 after five minutes and missed two penalties, the Brazilians walking off in protest at one.

8 May 1963: England 1 Brazil 1

Knocked out of the 1962 World Cup by Brazil, England could not take revenge but drew when Blackburn's Bryan Douglas replied to Pepe's swerving free-kick.

19 April 1978: England 1 Brazil 1

Brazil, in a "European" phase under Claudio Coutinho, had five bookings and were described by England's manager, Ron Greenwood, as " nasty". Kevin Keegan's free-kick salvaged a draw.

12 May 1981: England 0 Brazil 1

Peter Withe's header in the last minute hit a post to deny England their traditional 1-1 draw, Zico having scored early on for a side that would dazzle a year later at the World Cup.

19 May 1987: England 1 Brazil 1

Stuart Pearce made his international debut but was unable to prevent Mirandinha, later of Newcastle, equalising for a young visiting side after Gary Lineker had opened the scoring.

28 March 1990: England 1 Brazil 0

Lineker scored the only goal as Brazil were beaten for the first time in 15 games, England extending their unbeaten run to the same number and raising World Cup hopes.

17 May 1992: England 1 Brazil 1

This time Lineker's casual penalty miss cost him the chance to equal Bobby Charlton's record 49 goals for England and allowed Brazil a draw, David Platt equalising after Bebeto's opener.

11 June 1995: England 1 Brazil 3

Brazil's most emphatic Wembley win to date came in another loose defensive display by Terry Venables' team three days after drawing 3-3 with Sweden. John Scales and Colin Cooper both figured but never played again.

27 May 2000: England 1 Brazil 1

In the run-up to Kevin Keegan's unsuccessful Euro 2000 campaign, Michael Owen put England ahead but Franca equalised for the World Cup finalists.

ENGLAND SQUAD

Paul Robinson (Tottenham)

Scott Carson (Liverpool)

Robert Green (West Ham)

Phil Neville (Everton)

Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd)

John Terry (Chelsea)

Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)

Wes Brown (Manchester Utd)

Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)