Retirement Plan In 2006
Monday, November 15, 2004

England captain David Beckham says he may retire from international football after the 2006 World Cup.

The 29-year-old has been named in Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad for Wednesday’s friendly with Spain after recovering from cracked ribs but says the current World Cup qualifying campaign and the finals in Germany could be his last for his country.

"I think the World Cup is probably as far at it will go for me as an England player," the Real Madrid midfielder said. "But you never know if I feel good I may carry on."

England are well-placed to make the 2006 finals, sitting top of Group 6 on ten points.

Beckham’s Real Madrid team-mate Zinedine Zidane has already retired from playing for France in a bid to extend his club career and Beckham says he will carry on playing as long as he can.

"I want to play on for as many years as people want to give me. When I start fading out and the legs start getting heavy is when I will look to do something else."

Beckham is aiming to prove his fitness for Wednesday’s game after recovering from his rib injury sustained against Wales.

England will be without Steven Gerrard and Sol Campbell through injury, while Darius Vassell, Ledley King and Robert Green were also ruled out of the 22-man squad.

England squad (to face Spain in a friendly on Wednesday): P Robinson (Tottenham), D James (Man City), C Kirkland (Liverpool); G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Man Utd), A Cole (Arsenal), J Carragher (Liverpool), W Bridge (Chelsea), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), J Terry (Chelsea), M Upson (Birmingham); D Beckham (Real Madrid), F Lampard (Chelsea), N Butt (Newcastle), O Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), J Jenas (Newcastle), J Cole (Chelsea), S Wright-Phillips (Man City); M Owen (Real Madrid), J Defoe (Tottenham), A Smith (Man Utd), W Rooney (Man Utd).

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