The Hindu : Sport : Crouch to lean on Beckham’s crosses

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Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007
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Crouch to lean on Beckham’s crosses

MANCHESTER: When poaching in the danger zones, his lanky frame is a magnet for precision crosses — and England striker Peter Crouch is looking for one man to provide the service against Croatia: David Beckham.

England must win or draw Wednesday’s final Group E qualifier to seal a berth in the European Championship and Crouch is likely to be entrusted as the lone target man.

A pinpoint delivery from Beckham provided the 2.00-meter (6-foot-7) Liverpool forward with his 13th England goal in Friday’s 1-0 friendly victory at Austria.

Their combination was equally fruitful when Crouch last started a qualifier — the 3-0 triumph at Estonia in May.

Crouch is set to play in front of a five-man midfield after Michael Owen joined Wayne Rooney on the injured list by sustaining a thigh strain in Vienna.

“David Beckham is a fantastic player,” Crouch said. “If you have someone like that in the side, I know I just need to get in the box because if he can find half a yard, he is going to whip a cross in.

“He is still one of the best at delivering set pieces or out wide, and for someone like myself, who scores the majority of goals from crosses, he is certainly a player to have.”

As then-captain Beckham managed in October 2001, when his goal from a free kick earned a 2-2 draw with Greece and sent England to the World Cup, Crouch is confident the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder can produce again.

But lacking pace and fitness, a 100th cap may prove elusive. Even if the 32-year-old Beckham again plays the hero, he may not join his teammates at his sixth major tournament.

Beckham is unconcerned by that possibility. He’s just glad England remains in contention for qualification thanks to Russia and Croatia missteps this past weekend.

Their defeats at Israel and Macedonia saved Steve McClaren’s team from playing a meaningless match on Wednesday, which threatened being a night for furious fans to berate the manager of 15 months.

England positive

A point will ensure England of extending its streak of reaching every World Cup or European Championship finals since failing in 1994, but Joe Cole is only focusing on a victory to take his team through as group winner. “We might need only a draw, but I think we’ll go out to attack the game,” the Chelsea midfielder said.

“We’ve got the game of our lives here so we do have to play well.” “This isn’t a game where we can go in and think we can sneak it and not play well.”

Despite Croatia’s 2-0 loss at Macedonia on Saturday, the Balkan side still secured its spot in the 16-team finals when Russia lost 2-1 in Tel Aviv. — AP

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