Injured Beckham out for six weeks

BERLIN, July 2: Outgoing England captain David Beckham will be sidelined for six weeks after sustaining knee and ankle injuries in the World Cup defeat by Portugal, the BBC reported today.

Beckham was substituted early in the second half of the quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday, which England lost 3-1 in a penalty shootout.

The BBC said scans showed a tear in his right Achilles tendon and a small ''lesion'' in the ligaments of his left knee.

Beckham stepped down as captain today after almost six years in the job in the wake of the Portugal defeat.

His injuries make him doubtful for England's next game -- a friendly against European champions Greece on August 12. Beckham's club Real Madrid play a friendly on the same day against MLS side Real Salt Lake in the United States.

Reuters