David Beckham still has Sven-Goran Eriksson’s support

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Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was one of David Beckham’s staunchest supporters during Eriksson’s five-year reign as coach of the England national team, remains in the midfielder’s corner, even from his now-distant position as Mexico’s national coach.

I asked Eriksson after Mexico’s loss to Sweden in Oakland this week what he thought about Beckham’s playing for AC Milan.

‘Ah, David,’ he replied. ‘I’ve said for a long time I don’t think his career is finished on the top, top level in the world. He is playing here in America and I suppose he is playing very well. I don’t see so many of the games. But he can play in Milan, he can play in Serie A, in La Liga. I’m happy for him. He’s an extremely good professional.’

Meanwhile, Fabio Capello, the man who now holds the England coaching reins, is keeping the pressure on Beckham by again reminding the midfielder that his place on the national team is by no means secure.

‘He is playing well at the moment,’ Capello told Italy’s Tuttomercatoweb. ‘However, if he wants a call-up, then he must continue this form. He cannot rely on two or three good games and think that that will be enough.’

Capello said that is why he has not yet decided whether to select Beckham for England’s friendly against European champion Spain in Seville on Feb. 11.

Beckham has scored two goals in four games for Milan but was injured in his last outing and is trying to regain full fitness ahead of Sunday’s league game against Lazio and next Wednesday’s friendly against Rangers in Scotland.

‘David is lucky to have gotten this opportunity at Milan, as he knows that had he not been playing I would not have considered him for selection,’ Capello said.

Beckham is on loan to Milan from the Galaxy and is due to return to Los Angeles on March 9, but his agents arrived in Italy on Friday and talks were expected to continue through the weekend as Beckham attempts to turn the loan into a permanent transfer.

-- Grahame L. Jones