'I can play for years to come,' says Beckham

There might yet be a Spanish league winners' medal this season for David Beckham, but even his first trophy at Real Madrid may not top the astonishing rebirth of his international career. The former captain said last night that he intended to be in the England team for Euro 2008 despite his new career next season with Los Angeles Galaxy.

Three assists in two games meanthat Beckham can be assured of his England place next season and looks set to fulfil the dream of a sixth major international tournament. "I will definitely be there," he said. "I believe I can play for many years to come. I have already said Galaxy will do everything possible to help me play for my country.

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"I just love playing football. I wasn't nervous, just excited about being back. I have really enjoyed the last couple of weeks, we have gone two games unbeaten so it's gone well. The performance against Brazil was important because it gave us a lift. Even though they equalised it gave us confidence to win here."

Steve McClaren described Beckham's contribution as "immense". "He has set up three of the four goals we've scored and that's why he's in the team," he said. "We wanted David Beckham the player, and he is a very, very good player.

"It was a professional performance. It was always going to be difficult but we won it in the first 20-25 minutes: On the front foot, moving the ball and winning challenges. There were no problems from them and we were creating so it was a matter of time. The first goal is key and once we got that our confidence was great. In the second half we controlled it and once we got the second it was comfortable."

McClaren refused to be drawn on the suitability of Beckham playing in America next season. "I'm not saying we've turned the corner but the performances showed what we can do," he said. "The key thing is maintaining that. We've put ourselves back in the group. It's up to us now, to perform as a team as we have over the last three games.

"Now we've got four of the last five games at Wembley. The mood of the players after Andorra was that they had a lot to prove - and they still have. But there was a great feeling among the players and then we had the addition of Beckham and Owen, we'd missed Peter Crouch against Andorra and Israel, and Joe Cole all season. And Ledley King came in and did a great job."