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Out-of-form Beckham should play on the right: Eriksson
England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who expects to fly out for talks with David Beckham, said the England captain's form has dropped because he has not been fielded in his best position at Real Madrid.
Eriksson, who insisted Beckham was not finished as an international player, said his use in central midfield by Madrid, and not in his strongest position on the right flank, was affecting his performances.
Eriksson, who is planning to fly out to meet Beckham in the next couple of months, is keen to ensure Beckham rediscovers his best form for his country - something he has not managed to achieve in the past year.
Beckham can rarely be faulted for effort, but his performances at the Euro 2004 finals lacked the inspiration which he has previously given his country.
"I don't want to discuss the tactics of Real Madrid, because that's not up to me. But for me, he can do better if he plays on the right of either a midfield three or four," said Eriksson.
"It will happen for him, though. I can't believe that he's finished as a football player, and he's not. I'm quite sure about that.
"At Real Madrid, the expectations are that they should win every game 5-0. But they're struggling and not doing that, so it's difficult for all the players. You have to look at that as well.
"Against Barcelona, the whole team played badly. In the last game against Bayer Leverkusen David played well in the first half before he was injured.
"I will go out to see him before next February, although I haven't decided when yet. I talk to him now and then."
Real have Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane who often drop wide - while Ronaldo, Raul and Michael Owen contend the striking roles, with rather less strength in depth in central midfield.
Alex Ferguson nevertheless believes Beckham's best position is on the right flank, even though the midfielder has always harboured dreams of being considered as a world-class central playmaker.
Eriksson is also in agreement with Alex Ferguson over his treatment of Wayne Rooney, stressing his confidence that the teenager will learn from his loss of self-control in England's recent friendly in Madrid.
"The important thing was that he apologised in the dressing room to me, and I think that's enough," he said.
Having spoken to Rooney briefly on the flight back from Madrid last week, Eriksson has no plans to warn the teenager any further about the dangers of rising to provocation.
"He knew what he did and shouldn't have done, and that's it. I talked to Alex Ferguson about it, and there's no problem," he added. "It's in the interest of Alex and me, as well as Wayne himself, that he goes on growing to be the big player that he can be.
"He's at a good club to do that. I think (Everton manager) David Moyes was very good for him - but, of course, Alex Ferguson has huge experience of that."
Eriksson admits he scolded his players at half-time during their defeat in Madrid, some having revealed they have never seen him so angry. "I don't know about angry but I was not happy at half-time. We hadn't done well as a team," said the Swede. But while he describes that display as the worst in his 48 games in charge of the national side, Eriksson remains confident for the future. "I think the team will be stronger at the 2006 World Cup than in Japan in 2002 and Portugal in 2004," he said. "If everything goes smoothly, with no injuries, and we have an extra week's preparation before the tournament, then it's possible to win in Germany. But we will need a bit of luck as well." |
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