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- In pictures: David Beckham's injury
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- Vote: Will Beckham retire?
- Blog: Becks can still go to World Cup... as a pundit
David Beckham today dismissed claims his career was over as Fabio Capello said it was a huge setback to lose the heartbroken midfielder for this summer's World Cup finals.
The former national skipper was being assessed by a surgeon in Finland this afternoon ahead of surgery on the Achilles tendon he ruptured during AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo last night.
The injury has ended his season and his hopes of becoming the first Englishman to play in four World Cup finals but Beckham vowed he will be back.
A statement on his website said: “David is understandably upset but wants to thank everyone for their messages of support. He hopes to make a swift and full recovery.”
In pictures: David Beckham's injury
Capello was one of the first to contact the 34-year-old, who had joined Milan on loan to secure his place in the England squad for South Africa.
“I spoke with him after the game to offer my support, as did Franco Baldini,” said the England manager.
“David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow.”
Beckham faces at least five months out but his agent, Simon Oliveira, insisted: “This is not the end of his career — as has been suggested. Even if David does miss the World Cup, he is aiming to play with LA Galaxy towards the end of the Major League Soccer season.”
Oliveira's optimism was shared by Dr Sakari Orava, the Finnish surgeon who will operate on Beckham.
“Top athletes usually heal well but it's a few months until you are back at the same level as you were before,” he said.
“I don't think it is a big difference to be [aged] 25 or 35, it will be three, four, five months. Most of these patients come back at the same level, even in a top player.”
Reader views (25)
Shame for Beckham - excellent role model unlike so many current footballers but time to move on and well its one issue for the press to annoy Capello with when he's trying to win a World Cup.
Time for young players to step up and show they can produce the form expected of them..
Lots of pace but we need some end product from the likes of Walcott and Lennon.
- Mark, Watford, 16/03/2010 11:55
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maybe they can delay the world cup until he is fit
- Caesar, ealing,london, 16/03/2010 03:32
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I'm only bothered about the footballing aspects here. Just as Rooney has discovered the art of heading and playing like a true old style centre forward we have just lost the one player capable of deleivering the ball consistently on to his head. 20 minutes of Beckhams crosses could have changed the course of any game in the world cup and that is a sad loss. Who will do that now?
- Nj, Hove, Hove, UK, 15/03/2010 22:41
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What makes me sad is how many bitter and mean spirited people there are out there. I'm not a big football fan, but I think David Beckham seems like a really decent and kind guy who does a lot for sport and does more than his fair share for charity...not just with money but with his time. Just because he's made a success out of his life, why should people hold it against him? I wouldn't wish an injury on anyone and neither should anyone else.
- Lowri, London, 15/03/2010 19:47
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It may be the end of Beckham the footballer but. unfortunately, not The Brand. Good player , never great player. Plenty of time now for elocution lessons for David and Ted yknow !
- Nod, london, 15/03/2010 18:50
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England have not got any chance of winning the World Cup with or without David Beckham,but his loss through injury is a blow to the squad as we lack players of his international experience,I have been watching World Cup Finals since 1974,England have failed dismally in all the World Cups since 1982 only coming close in 1990 and will fail in South Africa,personally I learnt a long time ago England do not have a national team that is capable of winning the World Cup and I am never suprised when we fall short.Good luck to the team but dont hold your breath.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand, 15/03/2010 17:19
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ANYONE who know's their football, knows, that there is no-one in world football that delivers a ball quite like Beckham. Others flatter to deceive, Lennon, Wright-Philips, Walcott etc, but non of them are anywhere near his class.........I wish there was someone,there should be, but there isn't.
Bob C.O.Y.S.
- Bob Masters, Hemel Hempstead, 15/03/2010 16:58
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I feel sorry for David but your article shows the double standards that pervades the English media; I am refering to the Aaron Ramsey's injury. In yours and other media sources it was Shawcross who was the victim and not the young Welshman. Now that an England player is out for a long time there is mass concern in press.
- Adam Manktelow, Dartford, England, 15/03/2010 16:03
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The number of you on here posting nonsense such as, "There are plenty of better players" have left me completely in the dark. Who is the natural replacement, exactly, that we might pick out of the apparently clear abundance of talent England currently have in this position?
You're all so keen to jump on the slating of our former captain - and some of you for the most absurd reasoning it beggars belief - that you've missed the point entirely.
And Bingham Macnamara, why exactly, if it offends you so, did you seek out this football, World Cup and David Beckham related article and then read it?
- Stu, Homeless., 15/03/2010 14:17
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Thank God we are not taking this dead weight! we have loads of players on form playing in what is considered beckham's position!
- Come On England!, London, England, 15/03/2010 14:16
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poor old dave, over the hill and now he won-t be able to play.
he was never going to be picked anyway but i bet he will be there there in SA, milking the limelight for all it-s worth.
and as for A Cole, he will not recover in time.
- Jaberwokie, bern switzerland, 15/03/2010 13:57
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I'm no football fan but I feel very sorry for him, this must be devasting. He's always struck me as a thoroughly decent bloke who was also a fantastic footballer.
- Richard, London, 15/03/2010 13:02
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So no more catwalk in the England football, well that's great news.
- Paul, London, 15/03/2010 12:28
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Hear hear, of Tom, London . Good luck David quick recovery. I do hope he can make it David is one of England's best ever, but there again I do not Cr*** about the WAGS in the newspapers only the football, and over the years England's biggest problem has been the FA choosing the managers, and the managers themselves, not our the players, but because our reporters do not know nothing about football, there write about the silly WAGS sad..
- Fred, London, 15/03/2010 11:51
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Beckham would have been a minor player at the world cup, out of all the people we could lose only the third choice keeper matters less. But I feel really sorry for the bloke - he's made me proud to be English on more than a few occasions and always gave 100% Compare his attitude to someone like Jamie Carragher who dropped his country, in its time of need, because of an over inflated ego. No contest.
- John Entwistle, Hertford, England, 15/03/2010 11:45
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So what. There are plenty of better players.
- Michael Boughton-Fox, Cambridge England, 15/03/2010 11:30
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Dhan Raj are you joking mate. Beckham out has done us all a favour, he is past it now, Dont think him being a great ambassador for sport was going to help our chances, So was pele but dont see brazil asking him back.
- Dal, Bromley, 15/03/2010 10:21
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Dhan Raj,
You're talking nonsense mate. Beckham wouldn't have gone the WC. I am more worried about the fact that Ashley Cole may not be fit in time, the fact that we haven't got a recognised right back, the fact if Aaron Lennon isn't fit the choice on the right is between either an old or young headless chicken, the fact that we've got no real cover at centre-back. These factors make England's path to WC glory look doubtful, Beckham non-availablility makes no difference to our chances.
- Mark, South East London, 15/03/2010 10:17
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HOW WE LOVE A HERO IN THIS COUNTRY 'BUT HOW WE LOVE TO KICK THEM WHEN THEY ARE DOWN'
I KNOW BECKHAM IS NOT EVERY-ONES CUP OF TEA BUT COME ON GIVE THE GUY A BREAK!!! AND NO THAT WAS NOT A JOKE...
- Tom, London ., 15/03/2010 10:07
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He's past his prime, move over the walking advertising board and make way for some new talent......
- Smithfields, Kent, 15/03/2010 09:54
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well said David Marriot. Now the circus has left the town, we can get on with the football, and not the haircuts, the tattoos and the latest handbag of his stick insect.
- Joanna, london, 15/03/2010 09:48
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This is very bad news for England. Without Beckham the chances of winning the World Cup recede exponentially. David is a great bloke and a fantasic ambassador for Sport. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 15/03/2010 09:36
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Delighted, could'nt be more delighted. I am sick and tired of having to listen about these punks and their WAGs and hope not a single additional word ever appears in the press about these imbeciles.
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire, 15/03/2010 09:28
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Whilst I dont think he should not have been picked, surely this like everything else linked to England's potential failure is John Terry's fault!
- Nc, UK, 15/03/2010 09:24
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Thank God for that. Now we can get on and be serious about trying to win...
- David Marriot, herne bay, 15/03/2010 09:02
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