Beckham ponders record-breaking cap haul

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David Beckham on re-affirmed his desire to do well for his nation.

New Delhi: David Beckham addressed a gaggle of journalists on Thursday answering questions concerning England's Wembley form, the standard of the current squad and the likelihood of him becoming the nation's most capped footballer outright.

Despite his millions, his mansions, his pop-star wife, his three children, his celebrity-status and his bulging trophy cabinet, a humble David Beckham on Thursday re-affirmed his continued desire to do well for his nation in a pre-match press conference this afternoon.

It could have been issued statements from any number of England press conferences that the Milan midfielder has attended in the past. His unswerving patriotism has never faltered from his debut through to the present day, when he has the potential of claiming a record-breaking cap accumulation for an English outfield player, 109.

One of the key things that Fabio Capello and his Three Lions will be working on over the coming days, Beckham shared, was recreating their away form at Wembley.

"We've had the odd occasion where we've played good football at Wembley, but we still need to make it our home," ‘Becks’ said. "Away from home we have proved we can be a good team, with good players, we just need to do that at home."

Regarding the standard of the current crop of Englishmen compared to squads of the past, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United ace said, "I think this is one of the best squads I've been in. But there have been other squads where I've felt the same. Under (Glenn) Hoddle we played some great football, and under (Sven-Goran Eriksson) we witnessed success in qualifying.

"The (young) players we have got have exceptional talent."

Steven Gerrard is currently on 70 caps while Rio Ferdinand has 72. On the likelihood that one of his international team-mates will reach a ton of England appearances, the former Champions League winner mused, "There are other players who will, without a doubt, become centurions. It is special that players do that, and it’s great to have records and be up there with the best and biggest icons in our game."

He also added that he feels his game has improved while under the tutelage of another Italian - Carlo Ancelotti - at Milan. When asked about Capello's disciplined approach, he said, "The discipline side is more to do with the discipline of the team. The discipline of defending - that's one of the things I've learned at Milan. You can talk about individuals, but you must defend as a team.

The upcoming friendly against Slovakia on Saturday, together with the World Cup qualifier versus Ukraine four days later, could provide Beckham with the opportune moment to exceed Bobby Moore's 108 cap record for an outfield player. Beckham, though, remains insistent that the bigger picture is England's ability to book their tickets to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"It will be special (surpassing the outfield landmark)," he declared. "I'm just happy to be in the squad and, however I get it - from the start or off the bench - the good thing is getting this team to the World Cup.

"To be almost 34-years-old and have 108 caps is something special for me."

When pressed as to whether he ever thinks about surpassing Peter Shilton's 125 cap collection, he riposted, "Once we've qualified, I need to stay fit and must stay in the squad. I'm ecstatic to be where I am at the moment, and to feel as fit as I have for a long time." Then, with his trademark smile, he added, "We will see what the future holds."