Beckham wants to do it for soccer-crazy kids

London, May 22: Too young to understand the game during the last World Cup, David Beckham says his soccer-crazy sons -- Brooklyn (7) and Romeo (4) -- would be glued to this year's edition, which would provide a further impetus to his dream of leading a young England team to glory in Germany.

In an interview with Mirror Sport, Beckham said his sons are ''mad about their football'' and that would be another driving force behind his World Cup ambitions.

''I love having my sons watching the games so that will be an extra incentive. It's great having them there. It makes me feel good,'' he said.

The flamboyant midfielder revealed that the Beckhams are a soccer-crazy household and though his youngest son, 15-month-old Cruz is still too young to understand the game, both Brooklyn and Romeo have a clear liking for the game.

''They are mad about their football. From the moment they get up in the morning until the moment they go to bed at night they either talk about football or play football.

''They have got their own boots. In fact, before Romeo goes to bed at night, he will line his boots up at the end of his bed and then he'll go to sleep in his boots or his football kit,'' he said.

''I don't think he can work out what he wants to be yet. He has got all my shirts but he's got the kit of Iker Casillas, the Real Madrid goalie, too.

''He's got goalie's gloves and he's got a whistle. I don't know whether he wants to be a goalkeeper, a referee or a footballer,'' Beckham added.

Calling himself an emotional person, the Real Madrid player said, ''I think the last time I cried was about three weeks ago when I watched Brooklyn play football. He goes training every Wednesday and Friday for a soccer school that is run by ex-Real Madrid players and he scored three goals that day. I cried because I was so proud.'' Beckham, who is also seen as a father figure in an English side, which includes the exciting young talents like Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing said he was comfortable being the elder statesman.

''It makes me feel old every time I join up with the squad now.

We do these exercises called boxes where two players go in the middle and you have to keep the ball off them. I used to be in the young group and now I'm in the old group.'' Beckham also seemed banking on the youngsters to do the trick in Germany.

''I felt excited by the names in the squad when the manager announced it. Seeing young players come in is great. I have only seen Aaron Lennon play four or five times but he is an exciting player and a young talent.

''People have talked about him being competition for me and he will be. That's always going to happen. You always want competition.

You always want to be pushed. I have had that at United and with England. If you're at a big club or playing for your country, there are bound to be people challenging you,'' he said.

On teen sensation Walcott, Beckham said, ''Theo is such a young lad, he's a kid. From the moment Arsenal bought him, his life and his world has been turned around completely. He could not be at a better club with a better manager. There was an excitement about the squad even though there were a few gasps and question marks.

''Like any young player, if Theo does need to ask me anything, he will know straight away that he can. I have been through all that and come out the other side so I know what he's going through and some of the emotions he's feeling,'' he said.

UNI