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Beckham confident player rows with FA are now over
England captain David Beckham believes his team have put behind them last year's selection rows between the players and the Football Association and are fully focused on Euro 2004. "We are on the right road now to getting things sorted," Beckham told Sky Sports News on Monday before England travel to Faro for a friendly against Portugal on Wednesday. "We've got to be on the same side, we can't have these situations. It doesn't help for the preparation of the game or for the players. We've got to put it behind us." Last October, players threatened to go on strike before England's deciding Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey when defender Rio Ferdinand was suspended from international duty after missing a drugs test. The following month, Leeds United striker Alan Smith was dropped for a friendly against Denmark after being arrested for throwing a plastic bottle into the crowd in a club game, causing further unrest in the squad. However the two sides have since taken steps to improve their relationship and talks last month between senior players and the FA aimed at clarifying international selection policy were hailed as a success. "I'd like to think it couldn't happen again because it's not fair for fans and players," said Real Madrid midfielder Beckham, who said there was now a more relaxed atmosphere in the England training camp. TURKEY GAME "We were all looking forward to the Turkey game and the game after that and we were concentrating on something else instead of the game. "We're a few months on and a few changes have been made...so hopefully we are on the right road now." Beckham was scheduled to meet FA chief executive Mark Palios, executive director David Davies and Trevor Brooking, recently appointed director of football development, later on Monday. The England captain also said he was looking forward to his team's clash with European champions France on June 13 in Lisbon, the opening match of the tournament in Portugal. England are also drawn with Switzerland and Croatia in Group B. "It's a tough group we're in and the match everyone looks forward to is the French game, that's going to be a tough game," he said. "I've always said I like to play against the hardest team and players, and they've got some great players. "Portugal have also got some great players....to get a result would be a big confidence boost." |
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