Beckham reveals England heartache
David Beckham says he has a \"burning desire\" to prove new England coach Steve McClaren wrong after being dropped from the national team.
\"I know people said I should have seen it coming, but it was a total shock,\" said the former England captain, 31.
\"It's a terrible feeling not playing for England after 10 years, but I'm not bitter - more disappointed and hurt.\"
Beckham told the Daily Mirror: \"He has made a decision, but I've got a burning desire to prove him wrong.\"
The Real Madrid star revealed McClaren had told him \"you are one of the casualties\" when he took over from Sven-Goran Eriksson following England's disappointing World Cup campaign in Germany.
He added: \"It's hard to take when the reasoning behind it was to move on but, I still believe I have got two or three more good years left in me.
\"I thought I could move on with the team and not get left behind.
\"I heard there were some reports that I had begged and pleaded with him not to do it.
\"Well, obviously I was upset but nothing like that happened. I was upset but I am a man and I would never crawl to someone to pick me for the team.\"
Beckham, capped 94 times by England, said he will always \"be available\" to play for his country.
\"I didn't announce my international retirement because I want to play for England again,\" he said.
\"I still want to reach that milestone of playing for England 100 times and help them win the European Championship.
\"It's a target I set myself a long time ago and I won't give up now.\"
Beckham added: \"I want to fight my way back in. Steve McClaren says the door is still open. I'm not so sure.
\"I'd love to say I'll play for England again in the future. I'd love to say I'll reach 100 caps and go beyond that, but I wouldn't tell anyone to bet on it.\"
at club level becks has been one of the best english players around. mclaren couldn't manage a sunday league team!!
England omission angered Beckham
Former England captain David Beckham has revealed for the first time his \"anger\" at being dropped from the national team by Steve McClaren.
Beckham told Sir Stanley: \"Steve McClaren called me out of the blue. He had called me before asking about my ankle - I thought everything was good.
\"He said 'I want to move forward but there will be casualties along the way and you're one of them.'
\"I was angry and disappointed when I got off the phone.\"
Beckham added: \"It surprised me, I was gutted. Playing for England meant everything to me. But I did not plead with him as he has made his decision.\"
McClaren left Beckham, 31, out of the England squad to face Greece in a friendly on 16 August - his first squad since taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Beckham had already stood down as England captain in the immediate aftermath of England's quarter-final exit in Germany. He has since revealed that he was physically sick after the media conference when he announced his resignation.
The Real Madrid star also told Sir Stanley that he had made his mind up to quit some time ago but kept the decision to himself.
\"It was six months before the World Cup that I decided to make the decision to step down,\" Beckham said.
\"It was a hard, tough decision but six years as captain was the right time. I didn't think I would be playing the 2010 World Cup and I thought it was right for a new captain to take them forward.
\"I spoke to Gary Neville, because he's my best friend and Victoria, and everyone agreed. I didn't want to announce it before the World Cup because I didn't want the captaincy issue to disrupt the set up.\"
Beckham has been capped 94 times by England since making his debut against Moldova in September 1996 at the age of 21.
He has now set his sights on winning a place back in the England side, though he concedes he only has an outside chance.
Beckham said: \"I still hope I will play for England again - that's why I've not retired from international football because I want to play again.
\"If I was a betting man then I wouldn't bet on me playing again, but I really want to. I'm doing it for myself more than anything.
\"The lads have adapted really well and I have so much respect for John Terry. He's a great lad and I'm sure Steve will be a good coach for England. I think the future is good for England.\"
That would appear to be backed up by Monday's newspapers, many of which claim Beckham has little chance of a comeback despite the broken leg suffered by fellow England midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
Newspaper reports have also claimed McClaren will instead try to tempt Manchester United's Paul Scholes out of international retirement.
Beckham scored a brilliant individual goal for Real Madrid on Sunday to cap their 2-0 win over Real Sociedad.
In the final minute of the match, Beckham sprinted through from his own half and coolly slotted the ball past Asier Riesgo.
He told Radio 1: \"I'm never usually in that sort of situation where I'm running at a goalkeeper and I thought 'why not have a go and do it myself'. Apparently I started in my own penalty box!\"
