Post by Taxigirl on Jun 4, 2004 11:30:21 GMT
euro2004.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=206792&CLID=&lid=1071
David Beckham insists it was only tiredness that ensured England were not shown in the best light during the disappointing 1-1 draw with Japan as he hailed the team spirit within the camp.
The Real Madrid midfielder believes Sven Goran Eriksson's Lions can go all the way in Portugal and is excited by the prospect of leading his country into another major tournament as the tension builds throughout the nation.
England face Iceland in their final warm-up fixture on Saturday at The City of Manchester Stadium, but the main focus is clearly on June 13's Euro 2004 opener with France.
"My injury's fine," opened Beckham at a press conference. "The first thing someone said to me after the game was: 'Aren't you out of the competition?'
"That's been the talk so far. I definitely don't want that sort of thing again where people are talking about the injury because there isn't one. It's not going to be a problem.
"It's still important to perform in these friendlies, but we're all looking forward to the first game of the competition against France. But a lot of people have paid money to see the team perform on Saturday and it's important we do that.
"We're working hard at it. People were raising their eyebrows at the way we played the other night but the first 35 minutes was one of the best we've played for quite a while. Fitness was a problem for a lot of players, me as well, as I hadn't played for four weeks, so it was a good fitness test for us.
"We've got to be optimistic. There's no-one else like us in big competitions. America is a very patriotic country, who are very together with events, but, leading up to main events, in this country you don't get any bigger or better fans than ours.
"As England captain, I believe we can go all the way and win it. Our fans believe we can go all the way and they've every right to be optimistic as it's a very talented team.
"The pressure gets higher and higher as we get close to the competition. We're all talking about the first game against France, which is rightly so as it's a massive game for both countries and sets of fans. It's very exciting and to be part of that is amazing.
"Our physical levels can get higher, we're working on that, but the ability doesn't go away. We've just got to get the fitness right and we've got ten days to do that so it won't be a problem.
"It's a very exciting time for both sets of fans - you can see what it's like already in England with flags everywhere in cars and houses. There's no other place like it before a big competition."
When the morale in the England squad was questioned, Beckham was clearly riled by the suggestion.
"Without being impolite, I shouldn't have to answer that sort of question," he retorted.
"This team has amazing stability and the way we are together. Last night, we had dinner and it felt like being in a club side.
"The togetherness in this team is the best I've ever seen. We're not affected at all (by the newspapers criticising the team's performance).
"The players read it and see it, but the players were down after the game, to be honest, as we didn't play well in the second half.
"But once we realised we'd not played for a while, fitness was the only reason for that.
"I've never seen atmosphere like it in an England team. Even in Sardinia, usually when the families and children come along, everyone likes to spend time separately, but every one of the players' wives and children all mixed together and to see that was pretty amazing."
David Beckham insists it was only tiredness that ensured England were not shown in the best light during the disappointing 1-1 draw with Japan as he hailed the team spirit within the camp.
The Real Madrid midfielder believes Sven Goran Eriksson's Lions can go all the way in Portugal and is excited by the prospect of leading his country into another major tournament as the tension builds throughout the nation.
England face Iceland in their final warm-up fixture on Saturday at The City of Manchester Stadium, but the main focus is clearly on June 13's Euro 2004 opener with France.
"My injury's fine," opened Beckham at a press conference. "The first thing someone said to me after the game was: 'Aren't you out of the competition?'
"That's been the talk so far. I definitely don't want that sort of thing again where people are talking about the injury because there isn't one. It's not going to be a problem.
"It's still important to perform in these friendlies, but we're all looking forward to the first game of the competition against France. But a lot of people have paid money to see the team perform on Saturday and it's important we do that.
"We're working hard at it. People were raising their eyebrows at the way we played the other night but the first 35 minutes was one of the best we've played for quite a while. Fitness was a problem for a lot of players, me as well, as I hadn't played for four weeks, so it was a good fitness test for us.
"We've got to be optimistic. There's no-one else like us in big competitions. America is a very patriotic country, who are very together with events, but, leading up to main events, in this country you don't get any bigger or better fans than ours.
"As England captain, I believe we can go all the way and win it. Our fans believe we can go all the way and they've every right to be optimistic as it's a very talented team.
"The pressure gets higher and higher as we get close to the competition. We're all talking about the first game against France, which is rightly so as it's a massive game for both countries and sets of fans. It's very exciting and to be part of that is amazing.
"Our physical levels can get higher, we're working on that, but the ability doesn't go away. We've just got to get the fitness right and we've got ten days to do that so it won't be a problem.
"It's a very exciting time for both sets of fans - you can see what it's like already in England with flags everywhere in cars and houses. There's no other place like it before a big competition."
When the morale in the England squad was questioned, Beckham was clearly riled by the suggestion.
"Without being impolite, I shouldn't have to answer that sort of question," he retorted.
"This team has amazing stability and the way we are together. Last night, we had dinner and it felt like being in a club side.
"The togetherness in this team is the best I've ever seen. We're not affected at all (by the newspapers criticising the team's performance).
"The players read it and see it, but the players were down after the game, to be honest, as we didn't play well in the second half.
"But once we realised we'd not played for a while, fitness was the only reason for that.
"I've never seen atmosphere like it in an England team. Even in Sardinia, usually when the families and children come along, everyone likes to spend time separately, but every one of the players' wives and children all mixed together and to see that was pretty amazing."