BECKHAM CAN MAKE ME ENGLAND'S HERO - CROUCH

Peter Crouch believes he can fire England to Euro 2008 as long as David Beckham is given the chance to supply the ammunition. Steve McClaren must decide whether to keep faith with Beckham in England's decisive showdown against Croatia on Wednesday after the midfielder's lethargic display in Austria last week. Beckham has hardly played for LA Galaxy this season after a series of injuries and McClaren could opt to bring in Shaun Wright-Phillips for the former Manchester United star. But Beckham can still present a persuasive case to win his 99th cap. Despite his lack of match fitness, he delivered the corner that led to Crouch's headed winner in Vienna. And he has plenty of experience of this kind of crunch match, with his last-minute free-kick against Greece that booked England's passage to the 2002 World Cup still a vivid memory. Crouch is convinced his best chance of scoring the goals on Wednesday that would make him an England hero lie with Beckham. "He's still one of the best at delivering from set-pieces or out wide, so for someone like me who scores the majority of my goals from crosses he certainly a player to have," Crouch said. "He's a fantastic player for me. The last time I started for England against Estonia he created a goal for me. "With someone like him, I just know I need to get into the box because, given half a yard, he is going to whip a cross in. An early cross is perfect for me and David always provides that

BECKHAM TARGETS 2010 WORLD CUP

David Beckham is not in the mood to end his international career any time soon. With England now looking set to qualify for next summer's European Championships, and Steve McClaren set to stay on, David Beckham is also looking to extend his international career. He will almost surely pick up his 99th cap on Wednesday, and his 100th in February, but is now looking ahead to playing for another three years, and representing England in South Africa. "I want to play in the next World Cup. That is a big goal for me and an enormous challenge," Beckham told the Sunday Mirror. "I believe I can do it. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. "Contrary to some people's claims, I didn't leave European football too early. "I am still playing well and at a good standard. That's why I'm optimistic I can play in the 2010 World Cup. "I won't retire. I will always make myself available for my country. That hasn't changed." Beckham came up with the assist for Peter Crouch's match-winner against Austria.

CENTURY LAST THING ON BECKS' MIND

David Beckham is "not thinking at all" about the possibility of failing to earn 100 caps for his country and claimed reaching Euro 2008 was uppermost in his mind. Beckham is set to make his 99th appearance for his country against Croatia in the final match of their qualifying campaign at Wembley on Wednesday evening. It could be his last international appearance if England are absent from Austria and Switzerland next summer and coach Steve McClaren pays the price by being sacked. But Beckham has all his focus on being ready to help England progress and warned of the need to be 100% ready against Croatia, who beat England 2-0 earlier in the campaign. He said: "Not getting to 100 caps is not preying on my mind at all. I am not thinking about that. "All I am thinking about is the team qualifying for the competition next summer. These games are not about David Beckham reaching 100 caps. "It is about the England team reaching the European finals and that is the most important thing, not achieving personal milestones. "What is important, if we are given the chance, is we have to be ready for the Croatia game. "We can't make excuses. We have to be ready for Croatia and, if other teams slip up, we need to take advantage. But we will probably need to win the game whatever has happened elsewhere." Beckham insisted his fitness problems were behind him and that he will be ready for a second game in five days against Croatia. "For the the opening 10-15 minutes, it was tough going out there for me but I soon got a sort of a second wind. "The good thing is that my injury worries are gone. I feel fine and raring to go. I've got a couple of games under my belt since I got back fit and some good training and it's going okay."

ENGLAND RECALL BECKHAM FOR AUSTRIA FRIENDLY

David Beckham will return to the England side after a four-game absence for tomorrow’s friendly international against Austria in Vienna. The former Manchester United midfielder is set to win his 98th cap after recovering from a knee problem suffered while playing for LA Galaxy. Goalkeeper Scott Carson, on loan to Aston Villa from Liverpool, has been handed his first cap by Steve McClaren, the head coach, while Frank Lampard is back in the centre of midfield in place of Gareth Barry. “He’s been around the squad for a long time," McClaren said of Carson. "He had a busy summer in the Under-21 tournament and his performances for Aston Villa have been very, very good. The game will be an ideal opportunity for him to experience international football.”

BECKHAM HURT BY CAPELLO SNUB

David Beckham has admitted the thought of never playing for Real Madrid again "hurt a lot" when manager Fabio Capello froze him out of first-team duty earlier this season. Capello said that the former England captain had played his last game for the club after it was revealed that he had signed a five-year £128-million deal to join Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles Galaxy. But Beckham continued to train hard and eventually convinced the Italian manager that he was worthy of a recall before dramatically scoring on his return to the side. Speaking about Capello's decision to leave him in the cold, the former Manchester United midfielder conceded that he was shocked. He told Sky Sports 2: "I was really surprised. He (Capello) has always been pretty fair with me. "He's been really respectful of me as a person and a player and that's why it was such a surprise. "But he's shown what sort of a person and man - and manager - he is now. "I was thinking I would never play (for Real) again and it was hurting me a lot." The midfielder, 31, refused to criticise his manager when he was stuck on the sidelines, explaining that he has too much respect to lash out at his boss. "I'm thankful (to Capello). I would never come out publicly and criticise him. He's too respected in the game and I respect him. "(I reacted) the same way I've always come back from things, like whenever people say I'm not up to the job. "I proved to him I am a professional. I think he said, 'How can he be committed to the team when he's signed to someone else?' "But I proved I am committed; it doesn't matter if I'm going. "I'll still go flying into tackles and try and win something with this team." Now Beckham, who has just returned to the side after a knee injury, will play a part in Real's unlikely bid for the Primera Liga title and get the chance to compete once again in what he considers to be one of the world's finest sporting arenas. "For me playing at the Bernabeu is one of the best feelings in the world. "I always loved playing at the Bernabeu and when I look back, playing at the Bernabeu will be the highlight of playing at Madrid except, obviously, for wearing the famous white shirt."

BECKHAM RETURNS TO FIRE REAL's TITLE PUSH

David Beckham returned from a six-week injury absence to set up Real Madrid's winner in a 2-1 victory over Primera Liga title rivals Valencia at the Bernabeu on Saturday. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored with a spectacular volley to put Real in front before Fernando Morientes levelled against his former club soon after the break. Beckham, fit again after a knee injury, came on as a second-half substitute and provided a trademark free kick for Sergio Ramos to head the deciding goal in the 73rd minute. Real climbed to second in the table on 57 points, two behind leaders Barcelona who visit Villarreal on Sunday. Third-placed Sevilla (55) host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Valencia (53) are fourth. Real Sociedad kept up their chances of avoiding relegation with a 2-0 home win over Atletico Madrid. Serbian striker Darko Kovacevic poked in Savio's cross for the opener before Brazilian forward Savio made it 2-0 with a volley six minutes from time.

BECKHAM TO MISS FIFTH GAME WITH REAL

David Beckham will miss his fifth straight league game for Real Madrid on Saturday due to a sprained right knee ligament. The 31-year-old midfielder was ruled out Friday from Madrid's 20-man squad to play Racing Santander in the Spanish league. Beckham ran into the advertising signs behind the goal during Madrid's league game against Getafe on March 4 to damage ligaments in his knee. On Thursday, Beckham returned to the locker room after light training and didn't practice with the rest of the squad. Madrid is third in the league with 54 points, two behind leader FC Barcelona and one back from Sevilla. In July, Beckham will start a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.