Sour taste of Becks’ record

David Beckham EngLand Vs Greece 2002 93rd Minute Free-Kick

YOU may, or may not, have noticed, but David Beckham this week surpassed Bobby Moore’s all-time appearance record for the national side. His half time introduction against Slovakia took his tally to 109, one ahead of Moore.

Now, Beckham doesn’t float everyone’s boat. Some see him more as a model / actor / celebrity, than a footballer, and there may be an element of truth in that somewhere. However, he has just broken the record for the amount of games played in an England shirt. You don’t break such records, without having the dedication, application, hunger and desire that he unquestionably possesses.

Most of the people claiming Beckham’s achievement is inferior to Moore’s because Moore won all of his caps by playing from the start, whereas Beckham, latterly anyway, has come off the bench, fail to acknowledge the fact that many of Moore’s caps were won in friendlies, whilst Beckham has played considerably more competitive fixtures.

Because of the lifestyle he chooses to lead, Beckham is an easy target. Yet, give credit where it’s due, he has been a great servant to the national side.

If Beckham boards the plane to South Africa next summer, he will set a new record - the first player to appear in four World Cup finals' for England. Sadly, his detractors will probably find a flaw in that as well.