Beckham due at Galaxy a day after Wembley

Beckham due at Galaxy a day after Wembley

By Richard Bright
Last Updated: 1:04am BST 17/08/2007
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David Beckham insists he can play for England next Wednesday and for the Los Angeles Galaxy the following day on a different continent.
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Beckham made his first start for the Galaxy on Wednesday, scoring with a curling free-kick and creating the other goal for Landon Donovan in a 2-0 home win over DC United in the SuperLiga semi-final.

He was due to fly to America's east coast today for tomorrow's Major League Soccer clash with the New York Red Bulls from where he plans to depart for England to join up with Steve McClaren's squad for next week's friendly against Germany at Wembley.
Beckham aims to return to California the day after his Wembley appearance for the MLS derby against Chivas USA, who share the Galaxy's ground.
"For the club it's not a conflict," said the former England captain. "They made me well aware that they would do anything to help me play for my country. Obviously, it is going to be difficult travel-wise. I will go straight to New York if my ankle is fine and I will play some minutes in New York. I fly from New York either Saturday night or Sunday, then meet up with the [England] team on Monday. We play Wednesday, and I fly back Thursday morning.''
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Beckham played 63 minutes against DC United before being substituted and he immediately had his troublesome left ankle packed in ice.

Beckham boost for England

Beckham boost for England Beth Harris in Carson, CaliforniaFriday August 17, 2007The Guardian
David Beckham gave the England head coach, Steve McClaren, a welcome boost after he made a scoring return to the Los Angeles Galaxy side on his first start for the MLS club.
Beckham, captaining the Galaxy for the first time, shook off his recent ankle problems to score his first goal for the club - a trademark free-kick in the 23rd minute - and later set up the other for Landon Donovan as they beat DC United 2-0 in the SuperLiga semi-final.

He was substituted in the 63rd minute but the performance will do the former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder's chances of a 97th England cap no harm, with the 32-year-old expected to be named today in McClaren's squad for the friendly with Germany at Wembley next Wednesday.
"I was happy to get an hour on the pitch," said Beckham. "I didn't expect to last an hour but it felt great after 10 minutes into the game.
"It was important for me to actually get on the pitch and play some minutes. I think that was the most important thing for me. Once I'm on the pitch, I know I can play well and help the team and that's all that was on my mind tonight, helping the team and helping us get into a final and helping get our season under way."
"The free-kick was the first I've taken for eight weeks, so it was quite pleasing," he added. "I felt I was going to score as soon as I had the ball in my hands."
Beckham had played just 37 minutes as a substitute in two previous games because of a nagging left ankle injury that meant his first full training session with the Galaxy was not possible until Tuesday.
"It was a good strike," said the DC United coach Tom Soehn. "He's been scoring goals all over the world like that." AP
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Beckham ready for another lead role in NY

Beckham ready for another lead role in NY David Beckham is eager to deliver another command performance for Los Angeles Galaxy in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match against New York Red Bulls on Sunday (NZT) before linking up with the England squad next week.
The 32-year-old midfielder showed scintillating form in his first Galaxy start yesterday, scoring from a free kick and creating a second goal, and wants to get at least 45 minutes of action at the Giants Stadium in New York.
"I did get a knock on my ankle which is slightly swollen but it feels great, a lot better than it did after the previous match," Beckham said after masterminding the Galaxy's 2-0 win over DC United in a SuperLiga semifinal.
"Hopefully I will get a half a game or maybe more (on Sunday) but we will have to see how it reacts after travelling to New York."
Beckham, who was due to fly to New York today, faces a hectic schedule over the next eight days.
After Sunday's match, he will join his England teammates in London for a midweek "friendly" against Germany before returning to Los Angeles for an MLS encounter with Chivas USA the following day.
"Obviously it's going to be difficult travel-wise," Beckham said.
"I go straight from New York, if my ankle is fine and I have played some minutes in New York, leaving Saturday night or Sunday and meet up with the (England) team on Monday.
"We play Wednesday and then I fly back (to Los Angeles) Thursday morning. I think I arrive at 12 o'clock and we've got a game that evening so hopefully I will be physically ready to play some part in that game as well."
Beckham, signed by the Galaxy from Real Madrid on a $US32.5 million ($NZ47.90 million) five-year deal, said his new employers had no problem with his international commitments with England.
"It's not a conflict for the club," he said.
"They have made it well aware they will do anything to help me play for my country. They know how passionate I feel about playing for my country.
"So everyone is working together and I think that's important. Everyone has got to be on the same page and that's what they are."
Hampered by an injured left ankle for the last two months, Beckham was delighted to play for 63 minutes at the Home Depot Centre yesterday after wearing the captain's armband in his first start for the Galaxy.
"It was important for me to actually get on the pitch and play some minutes," he said.
"I think that was the most important thing for me.
"Once I am on the pitch, I know that I can play well and help the team, and that's all that was on my mind, helping the team get into the final and getting our season on the way.
"That's the first time I've been on the field for eight weeks and done any sort of running like that," added Beckham, who opened the scoring in the 27th minute with one of his trademark free kicks that swung into the top left corner.
"Overall, it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be and I felt confident going into tackles. The ankle is good.
"Physically I felt tired towards the end of the hour but, overall, I felt good."

Capt. Becks takes charge

Capt. Becks takes charge

CARSON, Calif. - David Beckham put on a show in his first start for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The English superstar scored his first goal on a free kick in the 27th minute and had an assist while playing 63 minutes of the Galaxy’s 2-0 victory over D.C. United in the SuperLiga semifinals Wednesday night.
“It’s very satisfying,” Beckham said. “I wanted to get off to a good start. I’m happy.”
And he became captain of his new team, with Landon Donovan turning over the armband to Beckham after their conversation a day earlier.
“He said he felt it would give the team a lift,” Beckham said. “I’m very honored.”

Beckham and Donovan teamed up on the Galaxy’s second goal in the 47th minute, with Beckham sending a long pass to a streaking Donovan, who scored on a breakaway.
“David makes a big difference in there, and it’s not just the goal,” Donovan said. “It was a big lift for everyone. We were all excited. It was nice.”
Beckham had played just 37 minutes in two previous games because of a nagging left ankle injury that didn’t allow him to practice with the Galaxy for the first time until Tuesday.
“I didn’t expect to last an hour,” he said. “It felt a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I felt confident going into tackles.”
The Galaxy advanced to the Aug. 29 tournament final in Carson against Mexican club team Pachuca.
Beckham’s next test comes tomorrow on the road against the New York Red Bulls. He said his ankle was slightly swollen after the game, but he hoped to be able to play at least a half tomorrow.
The highlight Wednesday was his 26-yard free kick, a Beckham trademark, but something he had not practiced in eight weeks.
After he connected inside the left post, he was mobbed by teammates. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon ran across more than half the field to join the celebration.
“The guy hadn’t even taken a free kick in practice,” Cannon said. “Think about what happens when he can start playing every day and start doing those things.”
Beckham said of the goal, “It was quite pleasing. I don’t want to sound too confident, but I felt I was going to score as soon as I had the ball in my hands.”© Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Beckham eyes transatlantic marathon

Beckham eyes transatlantic marathon David Beckham wants to play two matches on two continents in two days next week as he begins juggling England duty with his Major League Soccer LA Galaxy commitment.
Beckham made his first start for the Galaxy on Wednesday, scoring with a free kick and creating a goal for Landon Donovan in Los Angeles' 2-0 SuperLiga victory over DC United.
He was to fly to the East Coast for Saturday's MLS match against the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium.
From there, he plans to depart for England to join coach Steve McClaren's squad for a friendly against Germany next Wednesday at Wembley.
He wants to be back the following day in time for an MLS match against Chivas USA, the other Los Angeles club that share the Galaxy's Home Depot Center facility.
"I think I arrive back about 12 noon, and we've got a game that evening," said Beckham, whose has seen limited action in a month with the club due to a sore left ankle."
"Hopefully I'll be physically ready to play some part in that game as well. Hopefully it will all be good."
Beckham played 63 minutes against United before he was replaced on Wednesday. He immediately put ice on his sore ankle and said he had further treatment immediately after the match.
"I had to have my legs flushed through and get any of the little knots that were actually in my legs," Beckham said. "This was the first time I've been on the field in eight weeks or done any sort of running like that."
"I had to get some treatment. The ankle was a lot better than I actually thought it was going to be."