Beckham is teaching winger Theo Walcott how to cross
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David Beckham is teaching England winger Theo Walcott how to cross
Theo Walcott has revealed how David Beckham can turn him into a world beater in South Africa.
The winger is delighted Beckham will be part of the England set-up at the World Cup to pass on technical advice.
Fast learner: Walcott has pace to burn and now Beckham is going to help him with his delivery
Walcott said yesterday: 'He has always told me to deliver the ball into the space and if there is noone there, it is not your problem.
'You just need to put the ball in the space and someone should get on the end of it. That's what he's done. He's a fantastic crosser and having him there can only help. You look at someone who has won so many things and it makes you want to get the best out of yourself.'
Walcott, who idolised Beckham as a young player and was thrilled to pull on the England No 7 shirt against Mexico on Monday, added: 'It's a shame his injuries mean he won't have a chance to play in a last World Cup and he is a big miss but just having him around can only help us.'
Walcott has a feeling the England wide boys can shock the world in South Africa. While other areas, notably central midfield, may concern Fabio Capello ahead of Sunday's friendly against Japan, he is blessed with great variety out wide.
Inspiration: David Beckham talks to Theo Walcott
There is the electric pace of Walcott and Aaron Lennon, the trickery of Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips, the industry of James Milner and the adapted talents of Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard.
Capello boasts another weapon in Beckham, arguably the world's finest crosser of a football during the last 15 years. Beckham will fly out with the squad on Wednesday and stay in the team hotel near Rustenburg.
He will be considered a permanent member of England's backroom staff and will help those striving to swing crosses on to the heads of Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch.
The best results of the Italian's tenure have come home and away against Croatia in the qualifying campaign when the inspiration came from the right wing.
There was Walcott's brilliant hat-trick in Zagreb and Lennon's exhilarating first half-hour which terrorised the Croats and set up a 5-1 win at Wembley.
They have both been criticised for inconsistency but Capello has options. If Walcott's pace cannot penetrate, he can throw on the dancing feet of Lennon or Adam Johnson.
The England boss is expected to start with a 4-4-2 formation against Japan, although he is yet to finalise his personnel.
Gerrard's injury scare offers Capello the chance to see Joe Cole in an England shirt for the first time since his knee injury. Cole, Milner and Adam Johnson were all tried on the left in training yesterday, Wright-Phillips, Lennon and Walcott on the right.
PS
You can win without wingers. Sir Alf Ramsey didn't pick any from the quarter-final onwards in 1966, playing a 4-4-2 formation without traditional wide men. Selecting Martin Peters and Alan Ball to play left and right midfield respect ively, the 'wingless wonders' marched on to conquer the world - and Ball was man of the match in the final.
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Walcott with Beckham's crosses, that would be interesting indeed
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It's hard to imagine Walcott providing useful crosses. He has not done so as he prefers cutting in and taking shots instead of passing the ball. And even if he passes, the ball will be a wild one, aimed at no one.
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it'll be harder to imagine on aaron lennon.
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england always look good on paper......expect another failure.
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walcott should leave arsenal if he wants to improve.
he hasnt improved much since the first day i heard of him.