The Real Madrid player's tears after going off injured in the quarter final contrasted to those of Paul Gascoigne's at Italia 90. After joining Glasgow Rangers from Lazio, the Geordie went on to make a memorable return in a big tournament six years later under Terry Venables. For Beckham, it is surely too late already in his career to make a comeback and break the 100 cap barrier.
He must have known his days as an international player as well as captain were up as he watched from the sidelines, with the knowledge that following defeat in Gelsenkirchen, the then assistant Steve McClaren would be the man in charge the next time England played.
George Caulkin writes in The Times: ‘Hard-working, willing to embrace innovation and, above all, ambitious, McClaren will not hesitate to jettison those who block his patch. New blood should aid renewal. England's tactics will evolve from a strict adherence to 4-4-2 and over-reliance on stellar names. Glittering reputations will not guarantee a place. Off the pitch, wives, girlfriends and families will not be permitted to distract attention.'
McClaren said: "I think if Sven liked the look of a player whether I agreed or disagreed with him was a private conversation that we had and that we debated but ultimately it was Sven's decision. The first thing Wayne (Rooney) said to me the other day before I named the squad was ‘I'm the captain, who's going to be the vice-captain?'" (The Sun)
"After Becks had given a little talk (to the dressing room at the World Cup), Sven said: ‘Anybody else?' and I'd prompted JT (John Terry) to have a go. He got stuck in, effing and blinding, and it was powerful stuff. Afterwards, as we came out, Sven turned to me and said: ‘Well, you wouldn't get John in a church, would you?' I just said: ‘No, I suppose not', but the effect was such that JT carried on doing it for the rest of the tournament." (The Sunday Times)