Beckham fires England into last eight

STUTTGART, June 25 (Reuters) Captain David Beckham fired home a long-range free kick to give England a 1-0 World Cup win over Ecuador today and a place in the quarter-finals.

Beckham bent home a 35-metre free kick from wide on the left on the hour to rescue England after another laboured peformance in a match played in stifling heat.

England meet the winners of Sunday night's game between the Netherlands and Portugal in the last eight.

The English once again fell far short of the quality expected to justify their rating as one of the pre-tournament favourites.

Ecuador also showed little of the spark they had displayed in winning their first two group matches and rarely threatened.

Their best chance came in the 11th minute when England defender John Terry misjudged a header and allowed striker Carlos Tenorio a clear run on goal.

Tenorio took too long over his shot, allowing full back Ashley Cole to get across and deflect his effort on to the crossbar and over.

England goalkeeper Paul Robinson turned a powerful 25-metre right-foot shot by Luis Antonio Valencia around the post after 66 minutes, but had few other saves to make.

REUTERS KD RN2225