Buoyant Beckham lifts the Rooney blues
MANCHESTER, England, May 31: Captain David Beckham is predicting a bright World Cup future for England despite weeks of gloom over the injury to striker Wayne Rooney.
Beckham, on outstanding form in England's 3-1 friendly win over Hungary on Tuesday, believes the tactical changes triggered by Rooney's broken foot can be made to work on the game's biggest stage.
Beckham supplied the cross for Steven Gerrard, deployed as a second striker instead of a defensive midfielder, to open the scoring and laid on another for John Terry's first goal for his country.
''It was an encouraging performance,'' he told reporters. ''We have to have options going into this World Cup.
''We have got players throughout the team that can score goals and all great teams have got that.
''If we can take that into the World Cup and keep our confidence as high as it is, then we will be all right.'' As for himself, Beckham played down the inch-perfect crosses that had Hungary in trouble -- with two other flighted passes nearly producing goals for Michael Owen and midfielder Joe Cole.
''That's what I am there for,'' said the 31-year-old, whose 2002 World Cup was hampered by his recovery from a similar metatarsal injury to Rooney's.
''Wingers are there to set up goals and supply crosses and luckily for me I had a couple of chances and we scored from them.
''Physically and mentally I feel great going into this World Cup. I am not going into the competition, touch wood, with any injuries.'' Gerrard, tried out as a replacement for Rooney, made it clear he could shoulder the attacking burden when England start in Group B against Paraguay on June 10.
''I enjoy getting into the box and scoring goals and I've waited a long time to get a chance in a forward role,'' he told reporters. ''I enjoyed it.
''I'm never going to be as good as Rooney in that position but if he is not fit for the first couple of games, I'm prepared to give it my best shot.
''I think I've proved I can do a job in there.'' Playing down the change, he added: ''I know what to do when I get the ball. I've been playing football a long time. It doesn't matter where you are on the pitch. The rules are simple, you keep the ball and pass and move.'' Peter Crouch, who scored England's third after coming on as a substitute, is another alternative to Rooney alongside Owen.
But coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has now ruled out a third option, which the Swede put forward three weeks ago, of using Cole as the other striker.
By the end of the Hungary game, Eriksson had decided Cole would stay where he is for England's final friendly on Saturday against Jamaica.
''I think Joe Cole at this moment is doing a very, very good job on the left in midfield so I can't see any reason today why I should take him away from there,'' he said.
''If we want to start with Peter Crouch on the bench I think Steven Gerrard in the role he had is fantastic. So why should I try Joe Cole as well?''
REUTERS