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| England captain David Beckham (L) tussles with
Ben Thatcher (R) of Wales in their World Cup, European Zone, Group
Six qualifier at Old Trafford, Manchester, October 9,
2004.[Reuters] |
David Beckham could be sidelined up to six weeks after cracking a
rib during England's 2-0 World
Cup qualifying victory over Wales in which he scored a goal and drew a
suspension for the next game.
The England captain on Monday will return to Real Madrid, his Spanish
league club, rather than accompany his national team to Wednesday's
qualifier in Azerbaijan.
Beckham was examined by Real Madrid's medical staff in England and it
was hoped he could take part in light training, the team said on its Web
site Sunday. Real Madrid also was in touch with England's medical staff.
With Beckham injured and suspended for the game, there's no reason for
him to travel with the team. He picked up his second yellow card of the
qualifying tournament on Saturday, ruling him out of England's next game.
Michael Owen is set to take over the captaincy and Shaun Wright-Phillips most
likely will take Beckham's position in midfield.
Returning to Old Trafford where he starred for eight years with
Manchester United, Beckham scored England's second goal in the 76th minute
with a 25-yard shot into the top corner of the net.
 But instead of walking off the field in celebration, he left the
game with five minutes left, clutching his ribs. He and Wales defender Ben
Thatcher had collided at midfield. After treatment, Beckham carried on,
playing in pain and barged
into Thatcher, drawing the yellow card. His previous
yellow card came against Austria a month ago.
Thatcher said he did not intend to hurt Beckham and didn't think the
England captain's challenge on him was malicious.
"I don't think he was out to get me, he's not that sort of person," the
Manchester City defender said. "As for my clash with Becks, we were both
going for a pass, both 50-50. It was as simple as that. There was no harm
meant, certainly not from me. I was just going for the ball and we
collided."
Thatcher said there appeared to be no hard feelings.
"I went up to him and shook his hand as he went off when he was
substituted," he said. "I just said to him that I didn't think the first
challenge was a foul and he accepted that."
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-10-11 09:24