Becks: My life

 

'It wasn't Capello's fault' ... David Beckham

 

ENGLAND idol David Beckham yesterday insisted it was the PLAYERS who had to shoulder the blame for our World Cup disaster - in one of his most in-depth interviews ever.

Injured Becks, who sat at coach Fabio Capello's side during the failed campaign, said: "He did everything that he could have done. The manager can do so much and then it's down to the players."
He also told The Sun of his life with Spice Girl wife Victoria, their children, his hobbies, home life and his admiration for Our Boys in Afghanistan.

Midfielder Becks, 35, could not play in South Africa after picking up his achilles injury at AC Milan while on loan from LA Galaxy. Instead he watched from the sidelines as England stumbled through what should have been an easy group, then lost 4-1 to Germany in the last 16.
He said: "Capello prepared us right. He worked the players to the right amount and he set everything up for the players.

Cap fits ... Becks with boss Fabio Capello after Slovenia win

"But obviously the players know it was disappointing. We didn't perform and as players you know that - you know when you don't perform, you know when you don't play well.
"The players go on to the pitch and they know if they don't perform they don't win games. The players are honest about that but it's not about individuals, it's not about how individuals play - it's about how we played as a team.
"It's a cliché but you win as a team and you lose as a team. You have to take the good days and enjoy those, and the bad days you learn from and the team will do that."
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid ace, capped 115 times, went on:
"A lot of people come out saying this was wrong, that was wrong, this is what could have happened. You get a lot of people who think they know better than the players or the managers.
But one thing people should realise is that players don't go into games not wanting to win. Every one of those players out there knows that they didn't perform but at the end of the day they are still passionate about playing for their country.
They don't go into games thinking, 'I don't want to play today'. They love being out there and gave everything.

End of a dream ... England players after Germany defeat

I watched every game from my house with the kids after we were out. It's tough. It's tough when you get knocked out, whether you are part of the team or not playing. It's always tough."
Becks stood up for English ref Howard Webb over his handling of a stormy World Cup Final. He said it was a "tough match to referee" and added: "I thought he was exceptional."
He revealed he and Victoria recently took sons Brooklyn, 11, Romeo, seven, and Cruz, five, to the scene of their first kiss - a pub near his mum's house in East London. He opened up about the boys' personalities and revealed Brooklyn is beginning to notice girls.
He laughed: "Every day the kids say something funny.
"Cruz will talk the whole day. Romeo is the same but Brooklyn says hardly anything - he's starting to notice girls."

Look Smart ... Sun man Gordon with David Beckham

Becks, who visited Helmand Province shortly before the World Cup, said he was so proud of troops there that he would give his blessing to his sons if they one day wanted to join up. He added: "I would support my boys if that's what they wanted to do. If they wanted to represent their country and fight for their country then I would support them."
At the time of Becks' visit the number of British deaths in Afghanistan stood at 291. The toll has since risen by 20 more.
He told The Sun: "It's tough seeing the news footage. In the last three or four weeks it has been unbelievable.
"It's hard to see that and I can't imagine what it must be like for the families saying goodbye to their loved ones at the airport, which I saw. Some of them might never see their sons, daughters, mums, dads again. That's the reality of it. Seeing it first hand was one of the hardest things I've done."
He continued: "Talking to the troops when you are out there, they think they are forgotten. They think they are over there and people have forgotten but actually we are so proud of what they do."
Becks, who also answered fans questions during a Yahoo! video conference from 19 countries, was asked what he would do if he wasn't a footballer and he revealed a secret passion for Lego. He said: "This is going to make me sound really weird - when I was in Milan I had a lot of time on my hands and found online that there's a Taj Mahal Lego set you can buy so I bought it."

'War is hard to read about now I've met troops' ... Becks with Senior Aircrafts Man Madeline Rowe in Afghanistan

It had 5,922 pieces and when complete would be 16ins tall and 20ins wide.
But Becks explained: "I only built some of it because I got injured half-way through - not while building the Lego!
"I know it's not a career but I love doing it. My boys are the same." He confessed he also enjoyed drawing cartoons.
And quizzed on his famous fashion sense, he said: "I've always loved clothes, liked to dress up and wear suits. Romeo is exactly the same.
"I was a page boy and was asked if I would like to wear a suit or white knickerbockers and I chose the knickerbockers."
Asked to name his style icon, he said: "Steve McQueen - he looked amazing in everything he wore, even jeans and white T-shirt. He pulled it off."
Becks denied he deliberately wears matching clothes to Victoria on nights out. He said:
"People ask if we combine clothes but we don't, it's coincidence but there are a few outfits over the years we regret. One time Victoria wore leather trousers and a leather jacket and I wore leather trousers and a jacket.

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"Victoria looked good but now looking back, I'm not so sure. But I like a bit of variety. I wear suits but I also like to wear jeans, T-shirts and flip-flops."
He admitted his wardrobe is immaculate compared to Victoria's.
He said: "I'm very fussy about how my shirts are arranged.
"Victoria's is a mess with jumpers hanging out of the drawers and I rearrange it when she's gone downstairs."
He confirmed the family will stay in Los Angeles for "a long time" having settled down well after moving to the US in 2007. He added: "I love the weather in LA, taking the boys to school in shorts and T-shirt."
But he does miss home comforts. Speaking about his roots in Leytonstone, he said: "I grew up in the East of London so I miss pie and mash, English pubs and family."
He still hopes to represent Britain at the 2012 Olympics footie. He said: "If I'm still playing and I'm still considered to make a difference to the team I'd love to - but if not then I'm definitely going to be there anyway.

It's the East End of London, it's on my manor. To be part of getting the Olympics to the East End of London - it's one of the best experiences that I've ever had."
He continued: "I still want to be involved in the sport.
"I've been very lucky, played in some of the best teams and played with some of the best players but I've always wanted to be successful and win trophies with England. That's one of the things I've wanted to do. I've been lucky enough to play 115 times for England, start 100 and captain 50, but having played in three World Cups, I'd have loved to have won a trophy.
"I don't want to retire from international football even if I'm not in the squad.
"I have this season and one more year in the US and I still believe I can play in America and be involved in the England team, but it's up to the manager.
"I'm not ready to step down yet and still believe I have something to give.
"Football has given me so much so I won't just walk away. There are things I want to do on the charity side as a UNICEF ambassador.I do have plans, this is the beginning for me. I want to do things with Afghanistan, raise more money for families who've lost their loved ones."