David Beckham Goal of the Day

Goal of the Day

David Beckham – another sublime free-kick

The FIFA World Cup has witnessed the England captain's prowess on free-kicks before. Beckham's first goal for his country came at France 98 where a curving set-piece put the ball out of the reach of Colombia's goalkeeper. At Korea/Japan 2002 it was his penalty that brought England sweet revenge over Argentina and enabled them to advance to the quarter-final stage.

Beckham stepped up to the stationary ball. Up and over the wall it went and then down, a deadly mix of power and accuracy to find the only corner of the goal that Cristian Mora couldn't get his fingers to with sufficient strength to tip the ball aside. It was a fatal blow for the South Americans who had been one of the surprise stories of this FIFA World Cup but who couldn’t find the attacking combinations and fluency that served them so well in their first two games.

England’s problems were often of their own making. After ten minutes John Terry misplaced a header and that opened the way for Carlos Tenorio but Ashley Cole timed his last-gasp challenge to perfection and the ball deflected onto the crossbar.

England had their moments – chiefly involving Wayne Rooney who led the line on his own and, considering his lack of football over the last two months, did wonderfully well to complete a 90-minute shift. One turn and spin past a defender was Rooney at his best but Frank Lampard’s attempt to give it the conclusion it deserved was wayward.

Soon after his goal Beckham was physically sick out on the pitch, and later admitted that he hadn't been feeling well before the game. He did not finish it, making way for Aaron Lennon near the end but his best work had ensured that England advanced.

taken from : http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060625/1/89qe.html