Soccer: Eriksson expects more from Beckham

England soccer captain David Beckham should play longer and better against Argentina in their key group match at the World Cup on Friday after being taken off in the first game, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said yesterday.

"He played one hour (against Sweden). I think not playing for eight, nine weeks, it might be dangerous to let him play more, and hopefully he can play more than one hour on Friday," he said.

Beckham, who has only just recovered from a broken foot, was taken off after 63 minutes of the World Cup opener against Sweden on Sunday because he was tired.

The game finished in a 1-1 draw.

But Eriksson said there was no problem with his inspirational skipper's left foot, just that he was not match fit yet because of his long layoff from competitive action.

Beckham supplied the first half corner that defender Sol Campbell headed in after 24 minutes to give England the lead.

Eriksson denied that Beckham had been rushed back from his injury, saying the midfielder was a strong force for most of the first half in which England outplayed Sweden.

"He did well for 35-40 minutes, very well, but then he was tired," Eriksson told a news conference at the England team's training camp in western Japan.

"The foot is okay and that is very positive...but of course he needs match fitness, the tempo of the match," he said.

"I think the 60 minutes he did against Sweden was very good for him and he can only be better and better. So I think he will be even more important for us on Friday.

"I think in that way it was important to take him off the field, not let him stay out there 90 minutes. That means that he will hopefully be even better on Friday."

Eriksson said taking Beckham off was not the reason why England slumped in the second half, but added: "Things didn't become better when he went off, that is for sure".

Eriksson also downplayed any revenge factor in England's second group F game against Argentina in Sapporo after Beckham was red-carded in the World Cup four years for kicking out in retaliation at midfielder Diego Simeone.

"What happened four years ago, that is history today. I know Beckham, I know Simeone, They are two very professional football players, so I don't think there will be any problems of that kind," Eriksson said.

- REUTERS

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