BECKHAM'S THE BEST - HARGREAVES
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Owen Hargreaves insists England team-mate David Beckham still has an international future, and hailed the LA Galaxy star as the best passer of a ball he's ever played with.
Beckham earned his 100th Engand cap when starting alongside Hargreaves in as the Three Lions lost 1-0 away to France in the March friendly.
But although some have assumed that, having been made a 'centuruon' by manager Fabio Capello, Beckham's international career may now be over, Hargreaves reckons the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid man still figures in Capello's plans.
And with England due to face the United States and Trinidad & Tobago in friendy internationals on 28th May and 1st June, respectively, ahead of the start of 2010 World Cup qualifiers in September, Hargreaves feels Beckham should be part of the squad.
"I admire Becks," Hargreaves told Skysports.com. "He is the best passer I have ever played with.
"There is always room for someone like that. He is an addition to any team - not only footballing wise, but also as a person.
"He is great to have around and he has great experience at this level. He has achieved a lot.
"Whether he starts or whether he doesn't, then he is a great addition to the team."
Hargreaves also hopes to help England prove they are capable of winning their World Cup qualifying Group 6, although he insists revenge is not an issue as the Three Lions find themselves thrown into the mix again with Croatia, who ended their Euro 2008 qualifying hopes by beating them home and away.
"Revenge is a strong word," Hargreaves said in response to the question of whether he was looking for retribution against Slaven Bilic's men, "but at this level it is important to compete against each other.
"There are no ill feelings or anything like that. It is just a game of football and they will be going to the European Championship and we won't.
"It is a tough group, but we are one of the favourites. We would like to prove to some people that we are capable of winning the group and going on to the World Cup."
