Beckham Shrugs Off Red Card Nine Months On
March 8, 1999 - 0:0
LONDON Two pinpoint crosses that helped bury Inter Milan, making peace with an Argentine nemesis and the birth of a baby boy it's been a big week for David Beckham. The 23-year-old midfielder with catwalk looks and a pop star fiancee has suffered badly since his dismissal against Argentina heralded the end of England's World Cup campaign. The Manchester United player kicked out at Diego Simeone and left his 10 teammates to lose the second round game in a penalty shoot-out.
Beckham wrecked it for us the daily Mirror, and much of the country, concluded. On Wednesday Beckham had a chance to redeem himself in the European Cup quarterfinal against Inter and Simeone. He played so well that United Manager Alex Ferguson called him the finest crosser of the ball in Europe. At the final whistle, Beckham and Simeone exchanged shirts and embraced.
He's a good lad, said the Argentine. The following day Beckham's fiancee Posh Spice Victoria Adams gave birth to their son, named Brooklyn Joseph Beckham. It seems that the London-born star has finally grown up both on and off the field. The condemnation he suffered for his red card led his family to warn he might move overseas, but it has undoubtedly helped turn him into a tougher player who rarely wastes a ball and fights for the team.
He remains a superb creator of goals. Pundits raved at Beckham's tour de force against Inter and his part in Dwight Yorke's goals in the 2-0 victory. Beckham's crossing was excellent and I just had to make sure I was in the right place at the right time, Yorke said. Defender Gary Neville said: He's been playing well all season. He can take strength from the way he's coped with the stick since the World Cup. Teammate Jaap Stam agreed Beckham had suffered a lot.
I could see the abuse he was getting everywhere he went, he told Sunday's The News of the World. The criticism Beckham had to cope with in the wake of England's France '98 defeat reached such a level that his effigy was strung up outside a pub in south London. Another irate fan printed 10,000 red cards and gave them to fellow West Ham supporters to wave at the player during United's first match of the Premier League season.
Religious groups also tapped popular sentiment about him. A church in the northern English city of Nottingham displayed a poster saying God forgives even David Beckham and in July the British Bible Society appealed to the nation to forgive him. It was a huge comedown for the young player whose mild manners off the pitch contrasted with the breathtaking self-confidence he has always shown on it.
He first came to wide public notice in 1996 when he chipped a goal over an opposing goalkeeper from the halfway line. Dutch soccer great Johan Cruyff believes he is now destined for greatness. Beckham thrills me, he told the Mail on Sunday. He is ideal for an attacking formation. But a fiancee who gave him a Ferrari as a Christmas present, and the lifestyle of a superstar means media attention does not always focus on his attacking, creative play.
When paparazzi photographers snapped him wearing a sarong in the run up to France '98 it became front page news. Then-England Manager Glenn Hoddle said Beckham wasn't focussed on the World Cup and dropped him for the group game against Tunisia. After his sending-off all the barbs aimed at him in the past came back to haunt him. (Reuter)
Beckham wrecked it for us the daily Mirror, and much of the country, concluded. On Wednesday Beckham had a chance to redeem himself in the European Cup quarterfinal against Inter and Simeone. He played so well that United Manager Alex Ferguson called him the finest crosser of the ball in Europe. At the final whistle, Beckham and Simeone exchanged shirts and embraced.
He's a good lad, said the Argentine. The following day Beckham's fiancee Posh Spice Victoria Adams gave birth to their son, named Brooklyn Joseph Beckham. It seems that the London-born star has finally grown up both on and off the field. The condemnation he suffered for his red card led his family to warn he might move overseas, but it has undoubtedly helped turn him into a tougher player who rarely wastes a ball and fights for the team.
He remains a superb creator of goals. Pundits raved at Beckham's tour de force against Inter and his part in Dwight Yorke's goals in the 2-0 victory. Beckham's crossing was excellent and I just had to make sure I was in the right place at the right time, Yorke said. Defender Gary Neville said: He's been playing well all season. He can take strength from the way he's coped with the stick since the World Cup. Teammate Jaap Stam agreed Beckham had suffered a lot.
I could see the abuse he was getting everywhere he went, he told Sunday's The News of the World. The criticism Beckham had to cope with in the wake of England's France '98 defeat reached such a level that his effigy was strung up outside a pub in south London. Another irate fan printed 10,000 red cards and gave them to fellow West Ham supporters to wave at the player during United's first match of the Premier League season.
Religious groups also tapped popular sentiment about him. A church in the northern English city of Nottingham displayed a poster saying God forgives even David Beckham and in July the British Bible Society appealed to the nation to forgive him. It was a huge comedown for the young player whose mild manners off the pitch contrasted with the breathtaking self-confidence he has always shown on it.
He first came to wide public notice in 1996 when he chipped a goal over an opposing goalkeeper from the halfway line. Dutch soccer great Johan Cruyff believes he is now destined for greatness. Beckham thrills me, he told the Mail on Sunday. He is ideal for an attacking formation. But a fiancee who gave him a Ferrari as a Christmas present, and the lifestyle of a superstar means media attention does not always focus on his attacking, creative play.
When paparazzi photographers snapped him wearing a sarong in the run up to France '98 it became front page news. Then-England Manager Glenn Hoddle said Beckham wasn't focussed on the World Cup and dropped him for the group game against Tunisia. After his sending-off all the barbs aimed at him in the past came back to haunt him. (Reuter)