Best questions Beckham's value as captain
(dailytelegraph.news.com.au)
Updated: 2005-03-29 16:04

Manchester United legend George Best says David Beckham needs to lift his game or risk losing the England captaincy.

England's David Beckham jumps to control the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifier match against Northern Ireland at the Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. England won the match 4-0.[AFP]

The Real Madrid midfielder has fallen below his usual high standards in recent internationals and gave an unconvincing display in their 4-0 win against Northern Ireland on Saturday.

"Beckham has not done enough in recent games to justify being England captain," Best said in a column in the Daily Telegraph.

"We know what he can do from dead-ball situations but that is the only thing you are getting from him at the moment.

"He had a lot of bad press during the build-up to the match (against Northern Ireland) and whether things were playing on his mind nobody knows except him.

"You've got to be able to switch off from it.

"Beckham has to sort himself out especially as Kieron Dyer came on for him and performed so well.

"Sven-Goran Eriksson has to decide whether he's going to stick with his captain but at this stage of his World Cup preparations you can't see him being dumped."

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