The day after Beckham became only the fifth Englishman to win 100 caps, Capello intimated that he has a long-term future in his plans by comparing him with Manchester United’s Portuguese winger.
England coach Capello drew the parallels as he defended his deployment of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard in Wednesday’s lifeless 1-0 defeat against France in Paris.
Rooney played as an out-and-out striker, while Gerrard was asked to perform just off him as the Italian attempted to recreate the roles the duo have been successful in for Manchester United and Liverpool.
Beckham & Fabio at Wednesday's friendly between France and England
Capello said: “I have a David Beckham and he can be our Ronaldo. And Rooney can be our Fernando Torres. And I believe they are both good players.”
It was when it was put to Capello that Rooney has Ronaldo sharing the burden of expectation, and that Gerrard has struck up a telepathic understanding with Torres at Anfield, that he singled out Beckham as one of the players to make the system work.
“I played Rooney and Gerrard the way they’re currently being played at their own clubs,” said Capello. “I wanted to see them playing in those positions.”
Ronaldo has established himself as one of the best players in the world, plundering 34 goals for United this season to propel Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to a five-point lead at the summit of the Premier League.
In contrast, Beckham will see out his own glittering career at LA Galaxy and has freely admitted he can longer beat players – nor does he come close to matching Ronaldo’s goalscoring output.
Capello’s comments come after he maintained he could see progress in England’s performance in the Stade de
France in which they failed to muster a single shot at goal.
“The positives were that I saw the players playing with higher confidence. I’m talking about progress compared to Switzerland,” he said. “We were playing away from home against a top-level team and we were playing right to the end.
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“I saw the players and I now know what I can get out of them. It’s in this type of game you see the actual worth and
value of the team and players.”
One man sure of his own value is David Bentley, who has thrown down the gauntlet to Beckham after replacing him on Wednesday. Bentley said: “I’m here to take his place and that’s what I’ll be trying to do.
“I want to play for England, he wants to play for England and it will be interesting when battle commences. That’s what football is about, competition.
“I’ve got to keep performing at the highest level. Every time I step on to a pitch I will be 100 per cent and that’s what
you need for England.
“You need two players at the top of their game and fighting for the position – and that will bring the best out in both of us.”
