Sport

Beckham sets sights on 2010 World Cup

LONDON: With a question mark hanging over his place in the England squad, David Beckham says he still has plenty left in his football career.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, who made his 99th international appearance in England’s 3-2 loss to Croatia on Wednesday, still wants to play at the 2010 World Cup — when he will be 35 years old.

“I’m definitely not giving up anything ... I’m happy to have 99 caps but I want to reach 100,” Beckham said. “That would be a milestone.”

But if that 100th England cap doesn’t eventuate, Beckham maintains he won’t be hanging up his boots.

“If I don’t play for my country again I believe that I had a great career on the England side and I won’t be retiring yet,” Beckham said. “I believe I have at least two or three years left.”

When the time does come to retire, he has ruled out a move to coaching, planning instead to focus on his football academies in Los Angeles and London.

Beckham may have been dissuaded from assuming a coaching role by the tortuous treatment of Steve McClaren, who was fired as England manager on Thursday after the team failed to qualify for the European Championship.

“I could never be a manager,” he said.

Perhaps it’s because they have caused him so much anguish. “I was scared of every manager that I ever had in my career,” Beckham said.

McClaren’s exit will trigger another overhaul within the England team and Beckham hopes it doesn’t include him — again.

“I said at the start of my career I’ll always want to play for my country and I’d never retire from playing for my country,” Beckham said Thursday. “That could obviously be taken out of my hands but I want to reach my 100 caps.

“To get those 100 caps would be a dream come true for me.”

Initially discarded after the 2006 World Cup and branded a “casualty,” the former captain came to McClaren’s rescue when England’s European Championship hopes began to fade.

They were finally extinguished by Croatia’s triumph at Wembley Stadium, ending McClaren’s bleak 15-month reign and Beckham’s dream of playing in a sixth major international tournament.

“I’ll still be available,” Beckham said. “Hopefully I’ll still be playing, and playing well enough to be in the England squad in 2010. — AP

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