It is very much likely that the English national side has seen the last of David Beckham. Although the face of football is still playing in the MLS for LA Galaxy, it looks very unlikely that the former Manchester
United man will ever play for the Three Lions again. It is for sure that the ageing icon won’t be hitting the field in 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The time has come to look for his replacement which is a very hard task. Even though David Beckham is criticized a lot no one can doubt the achievements of the man.
The former England number 7 was a runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 1999 and 2001.
Beckham has also won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United in 1999 and has won the League title in both England and in Spain along with other domestic cups.
But when it comes to his standing in English football, avid Beckham is more than just a player. Undoubtedly, the man is England’s most famous player and can be considered as the face of football in the world. His ability to produce
magical moments is something people always talk about like his free kick during injury time against Greece that took England to the World Cup 2002 in South Korea and Japan.
Producing dramatic moments is what David Beckham is all about.
His free kick against Greece during injury time gave England a place at the 2002 World Cup, and once England got there, Beckham netted a game-winning goal in the group stage victory over arch-rival Argentina.
His record for dramatic flair at club level is equally phenomenal. It was Beckham’s corner kicks that set up Manchester United’s two goals in one of the greatest comebacks of Champions League history.
The question is who can replace David Beckham as the new face of English football?
Whoever will, will have a great responsibility ahead of him because David Beckham is not just any other good football player. The Englishman is a symbol of football and an icon who raised the profile of football in U.S after his
arrival at LA Galaxy.
Let’s take a look at some of the players who just might step up to take David Beckham’s place and moreover, his presence.
Steven Gerrard
The Liverpool man was one of the very few English players who came out of the World Cup fiasco in South Africa with their reputation still intact and less tarnished than others.
Gerrard opened England’s scoring account in this year’s World Cup against U.S.A but the match ended in a 1-1 draw and later on, set up Mathew Upson for England’s first goal in the 16 round clash against Germany where the Three
Lions were soundly beaten 4-1.
After the debacle, England played minnows Hungary and it is widely argued that Gerrard single handedly saved Fabio Capello’s job as England manager.
The team morale was on a low and with only 22 minutes left, England was trailing 1-0 at home but Gerrard scored two beautiful goals that saved England’s blushes and eased the pressure a little bit on Fabio Capello and his team.
In England's first game after the World Cup, Gerrard may have single-handedly saved Fabio Capello's job.
Gerrard has scored 19 times for England and has now scored more goals than David Beckham and has performed even better than Beckham perhaps, at club level.
In 2005, Liverpool was trailing 3-0 at half time against .C Milan in the Champions League final but Gerrard was the architect of a great comeback as Liverpool went on to win the final on penalties as the Liverpool man put in one
of the best performances in the Champions League final.
The great Zinedine Zidane described Steven Gerrard as the best player in the world in 2009 and England fans would be hoping for the man from Liverpool to prove the French master right and would be hoping that Steven Gerrard steps
up to fill the void left by David Beckham.
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