ACTUALITE |
26.05.2002
Eriksson faces Beckham nightmare
KOBE
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson on Saturday was facing the disastrous possibility that David Beckham could be ruled out of the opening two games in the World Cup finals.
Eriksson is still clinging to the hope that Beckham will be able to start the opener against Sweden next weekend, insisting that "if you believe hard enough, it will happen".
However, he issued his captain with a stark warning that he cannot afford to give him any special treatment in the battle to prove his fitness from a fractured foot.
Beckham`s recovery programme is thought to be behind schedule, with Eriksson having disclosed how the midfielder suffered a slight setback on Thursday due to overwork.
It will not be until Beckham has a further scan next week that there is any clear indication whether he has a realistic chance of being fit to face the Swedes or Argentina.
But however positive Eriksson remains on the surface, he still discussed the possibility of his captain being ruled out of the World Cup if he is not fit for the group stage of the tournament.
He fully appreciates the talismanic qualities of his skipper, admitting "you can have a very good player but you can`t find anyone of the class of Beckham".
However, he knows his side cannot afford to carry any injured passengers in their tough World Cup group - as waiting for even Beckham until the knock-out stages could spell an early exit.
Eriksson, who also has major doubts over Kieron Dyer, admitted: "When you start the World Cup, you can allow one player who can`t play the first match if you are almost sure he will be fit for the second.
"But if you have one or two players who won`t be fit for the first or second games then it`s very doubtful. After the second game, the World Cup can be over."
Eriksson made it clear on Friday that he cannot afford to pick any players who could be out of the opening three group games, with David Dunn and Alan Smith on standby.
Referring to Dyer, the England coach stressed if "we think he`s going to struggle to play against Sweden or Argentina, it`s very doubtful that he`d take part in the World Cup".
Asked if that outlook also applied to Beckham, he replied: "It`s a very difficult question but if I have the guarantee that a player couldn`t play against Sweden and Argentina, and maybe not Nigeria, I`d have to make the decision."
Eriksson still cannot rule out the possibility of Beckham missing the first two games, however, although he knows the huge cost to England if he was actually ruled out of the entire tournament.
"That should be extremely bad for all the squad, for me, for himself and for the World Cup. It`s like taking out Zidane, Raul or Figo," he argued.
Eriksson would certainly not pick any player against Sweden even if he was "80% fit as the pressure on the team in a game like that is so great", with the Argentina match coming just five days later.
For the time being, although Eriksson may fear the worst, he is certainly not admitting to it in public.
"I have always thought that David would play from the first minute against Sweden. I`m not sure though as I can`t be. I talk to the medical staff but it`s also about hope," he said.p
As for the recent training setback, he insisted: "David had a small reaction on Thursday as he was working too hard and could only do one session.
"There was a bit of swelling but after a couple of hours, it was all right. It was nothing really."
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