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For England's sake
Never will a David Beckham goal at the Kop end at Anfield be greeted with such delight. Next week, Beckham will return to Anfield in Manchester United colors. Liverpool fans will curse his every touch. But on Saturday in a crucial World Cup qualifier against Finland, the Liverpudlian crowd gave Beckham and his team -- whatever their club persuasion -- magnificent support. Sven Goran Eriksson's new Captain Marvel delivered those that cheered him a splendid second-half winner and renewed hope of a World Cup finals place in 2002. England, without Wembley, is touring the grounds of the nation for its Group 9 qualifying games. This might be customary for other European nations, like Spain, Germany and Italy -- but not England. There was genuine concern that the vicious rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool might rear its ugly head during a must-win international at Anfield -- especially where perennial fan target Beckham was concerned. But this was Liverpool United -- a stadium, a city, fully behind a nation. England won 2-1.
Beckham produced one of his best performances in an England shirt, benefiting from the rest afforded him by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. He dropped Beckham for United's last two games and, though the midfield superstar didn't wholeheartedly agree with the move, it clearly helped his cause. His form prior to the break had been indifferent at best. His winning strike was only his second goal for England in 39 appearances and he admitted: "It was a long time coming."
Beckham has been a great under-achiever for England. He was also pilloried for his sending off in the last World Cup against Argentina, a second-round game the English lost on penalties. But it might just be a masterstroke by Eriksson to name the mercurial Beckham his captain. It might, at long last, take Beckham to the next level on the international stage. For England's sake, not even Liverpool fans will begrudge him that. Phil Jones is co-host of World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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