...but Team GB would learn from his magic touch

ANYONE who is part of Team GB should be there on merit and that certainly applies to David Beckham. Yes, Beckham is an iconic figure who will put bums on seats, but he also has plenty to offer on the pitch. Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are still three of the best strikers of a ball around and if Beckham was still at Manchester United he would be as important to the club as are his former team-mates. They are modern-day Peter Pans and it will be so hard for each of them when they finally have to hang up their boots. The footballers in the Olympic squad would learn from Beckham all the time about what it means to be a winner. His crossing ability is phenomenal too. I remember scoring against Malta from a ball he put in and I couldn’t miss, such was the precision of the in-swinging cross. The accuracy of his passing means he still has plenty to offer in the middle of the park. If Giggs can do it, why can’t he? He is a brave player too, always looking to play a killer pass or score a winning goal. Those qualities would be a massive asset to the team. His professionalism also sets him apart. Every time we went anywhere with England, the attention he received was unbelievable but he was just concerned with what was happening on the pitch, and that is impressive considering there was so much going on around him. He is a perfectionist. His boots are designed to fit his feet perfectly and he has a different pair for each game so they are crisp and perfect. I like that attention to detail — the sort Team GB can benefit from.