Beckham expected to start

Premier League / Editor / 29 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

David Beckham is expected to start for England against Brazil on Friday - and the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia on 6 June.

The former captain should play his first game for the Three Lions since the World Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Portugal last July after Tottenham flyer Aaron Lennon twisted his knee in England B's 3-1 win against Albania last Friday.

Beckham lined up alongside Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole in midfield for training on Monday, suggesting coach Steve McClaren will hand the 32-year-old his first start under his stewardship against the Brazilians at the new Wembley Stadium.

England are available at 2.8 to beat Brazil, with their illustrious opponents almost even on 2.82 and the draw trading at 3.4.
Next up for England, who are fourth in Group E and available at 1.65 in Betfair's To Qualify market, is a must-win Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia in Tallinn.

McClaren is banking on Beckham's experience to steer stuttering England back on course to reach next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland but denied his inclusion in the squad was an act of desperation.

McClaren insisted that the decision to resurrect Beckham's international career was taken after the friendly defeat by Spain at Old Trafford in February.

"It is not a panic measure, we have thought about it long and hard," insisted McClaren.

"After the Spain game, we looked at the situation and reassessed where we were because that get-together and game were such a big disappointment.

"We were looking at the possibility of changing things around, so David came into our thinking and reckoning then.

"We were monitoring his progress and he was under consideration for the Israel game but, unfortunately, he got injured."

Croatia, who are two points ahead of Israel, Russia and England, are the 1.93 favourites in Betfair's Group E winner market, with McClaren's men trading at 4.5 behind Russia (4.3).