Qualification not revenge the aim for Beckham

David Beckham insists England won’t be motivated by revenge when they bid to seal World Cup qualification against Croatia on Wednesday.

Beckham was part of the England team denied a place at Euro 2008 by Croatia’s 3-2 victory at Wembley in November 2007.

That dismal defeat signalled the end of Steve McClaren’s reign and ushered in a new era under Fabio Capello.

Under Capello’s no-nonense leadership, England have gone on an impressive run of seven successive qualifying victories to move within one more win of reaching next year’s finals in South Africa.

The chance to achieve that aim against Croatia at Wembley would be a cathartic experience for England. But LA Galaxy midfielder Beckham is adamant that the players are focused solely on qualification rather than erasing those painful memories.

“It was disastrous for us as a nation not qualify. It was one of the most difficult times as an Englishman and a footballer for this country. When you don’t qualify and don’t win a game you should at Wembley, it’s hurtful,” Beckham said at England’s hotel on Monday.

“Many players in this squad were involved in that game and hurt that night. Everyone was upset in the changing room after but we have got over that as a squad and a nation.

“But it’s not about revenge for us. Our objective is about qualifying for the World Cup, not about beating Croatia or putting bad memories to rest.

“It’s about moving forward. The squad have done that. They’ve brought the belief back to the country and the fans. That was the biggest thing for us.

“I’m sure the fans will want us to beat them on the revenge side but most important for us is knowing that if we win we are in the World Cup finals. That’s all we are thinking about.”

After spending most of his England career as the team’s figurehead, Beckham is now forced to settle for a bit-part role.

The former Manchester United star didn’t even make it off the bench in Saturday’s 2-1 friendly win over Slovenia – the first time he hasn’t appeared for England when he has been in the squad since 1998.

But the 34-year-old has no complaints about Capello’s decision to use Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon ahead of him and is just happy to still be in the squad after his England career looked over three years ago.

“It doesn’t worry me at all,” Beckham said. “The manager has his own views and decides who plays and doesn’t.

“He has a squad of players and there were four or five others that didn’t get on as well. Every player wants to play every minute of every game but sometimes it doesn’t happen.

“I’m in the squad, involved in the squad. When you’ve got players like Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips playing the way they are, they deserve to be playing.”

If Beckham does make it into Capello’s final squad for the World Cup, it will be his fourth appearance in the game’s biggest showpiece.

To do that he knows he needs to be playing at the highest level possible leading up to the finals. That is certain to mean a return to European football again once the MLS campaign finishes later this season.

Beckham has been approached by Premier League clubs and also admits that AC Milan have told him they are happy to have him back for a second loan spell.

“Everyone is aware that I will finish the MLS season with the Galaxy. We are going pretty well at the moment and after that I need to do what I can to be involved in the rest of the games leading up to the World Cup,” Beckham said.

“I have plans, I have options. It’s always good to have options.

“My career so far has been incredible. I’ve had ups and downs, played in three World Cups, been captain of my country, played for some of the biggest clubs, and I’ve enjoyed that.

“If we reach another World Cup and I play some part of that, it will be up there with all the other achievements I’ve had in my career. But we’ve not qualified yet.”