David Beckham Capsules: Beckham's surgery completed
TURKU, Finland — David Beckham's left Achilles' tendon was "totally torn," and the doctor who performed the surgery said the England midfielder is expected to be out of action for about six months.
Dr. Sakari Orava said the 34-year-old Beckham was expected to recover well from the injury but was all but certain to miss the World Cup in South Africa in June.
"He is doing well and the operation lasted just under an hour. It went very well," Orava told The Associated Press after the operation at the Mehilainen clinic in Turku, southwestern Finland. "He will have to take it very easy during the next two to three weeks or a month, and then he will continue with a recuperation program slowly.
"The foot won't take much strain for two to three months."
Orava also said it would be "four months to running" and another two months before playing.
"He was a bit depressed, which is normal, and because his leg was in pain he had not slept a lot last night and he was happy to get treatment as soon as possible," Orava said.
Beckham's spokesman, Simon Oliveira, said the tendon was completely repaired, but he expected Beckham to return to the game.
"David is expected to make a full recovery," Oliveira said.
The former England captain was injured in the closing minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo Verona on Sunday.
Orava said Beckham would stay the night at the clinic and likely leave Finland on Tuesday. A statement from AC Milan said Beckham would remain under observation for a few days.
"Tomorrow, Professor Orava will give his prognosis, and a precise rehabilitation plan will follow," Milan said.
Using crutches, Beckham hobbled out of a private jet at Turku airport in southwestern Finland at about 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) and was whisked away in a Mercedes. Just minutes later, he arrived at the clinic surrounded by security guards amid cheers from hundreds of fans who had gathered outside the entrance.
"I am upset but (want) to thank everyone for their messages of support," Beckham said in a statement posted on his personal Web site before his arrival. "I hope to make a swift and full recovery."
The injury shattered Beckham's hopes of becoming the first English player to appear in four World Cups and put his future in international football in doubt.
Beckham's international career for England appears all but over and it remains to be seen how much he'll have left for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Major League Soccer.
Capello and his England assistant, Franco Baldini, spoke with Beckham on the telephone to offer best wishes.
With only a few minutes remaining in the Chievo game and the score 0-0, Beckham was by himself in the center circle when he took a pass with his left foot, stepped back awkwardly, then stepped forward and started hopping on his right foot with an expression of pain on his face. He reached a hand down to his left heel, then stood up and gestured as if he was breaking a twig in half to show the AC Milan bench he knew the tendon was broken.
Visibly in pain and in tears, Beckham went to the touchline for medical attention.
Orava told the AP the tendon "was totally torn," not just a small rupture.
Milan's medical staff consulted with the Galaxy's medical team, and Milan organizing director Umberto Gandini spoke with Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG which owns the Galaxy, but it was Beckham who decided to go to Finland.
"It was the player's decision," Gandini told the AP on Monday. "It's the player who decides for his own health, and the player's decision was to go to Finland where there is a surgeon who specializes in these injuries."
While Beckham has not been a starter for England in recent matches, he was likely to make the World Cup squad. Beckham was still prized for his free kicks and crosses, especially when England needed second-half goals.
And for many, he is the best-known football player in the world, a fashion icon with a celebrity wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was on his second loan stint at AC Milan from the Galaxy as he tried to boost his chances of making Capello's 23-man World Cup squad. He has scored 17 goals for England and made 115 appearances, second in England history behind only goalkeeper Peter Shilton's 125 from 1970-90.
Beckham was England's captain from November 2000 through the 2006 World Cup.
It was yet another blow for Major League Soccer, already facing the threat of a players' strike ahead of the season opener on March 25. Beckham is the league's highest-paid player with a $32.5 million, five-year contract — and its biggest draw.
"We just received the information about David's unfortunate injury," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "We wish him a speedy recovery."
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said it was too early to tell exactly how long Beckham, who was due to join Los Angeles after the World Cup, will be out. Arena didn't want to discuss the impact the injury would have on the season. He wouldn't blame the injury on the loan.
"Players get hurt whether they're on loan or not," he said. "Injuries are unfortunately part of the game."
Commentary: Beckham the player won't be hugely missed
PARIS — David Beckham won't be the only player forced to watch the World Cup on television, but he is going to be one of the most sorely missed.
In pure soccer terms, however, the truth is that his absence will hardly be felt.
Given how hard Beckham toiled to realize his unlikely ambition, at age 34, of getting to South Africa this June, it is heartbreaking that a ruptured Achilles' tendon has now abruptly and cruelly dashed his hopes. The apparent seriousness of the injury and Beckham's advancing years together make it unlikely that he will play for England again.
Slower than he once was and no longer indispensable, Beckham was never going to be the World Cup's top scorer or its standout star. It was never even guaranteed that he would make England manager Fabio Capello's squad. If he had, Beckham would have spent much, if not most or even all the World Cup warming the bench, a Hollywood-famous understudy for younger and speedier wingers like Theo Walcott or Aaron Lennon.
Beckham knew that, but he didn't care. He just wanted to be there, for his fourth and final World Cup. Not because of money — he already has plenty — or to boost the Beckham brand, which thrives despite the fact that age has blunted some of his footballing skills although, to his credit, not his desire.
No, this time his motivations were far purer, at least that is how it appeared. He hoped to break former goalkeeper Peter Shilton's record of 125 appearances for England. He felt his two decades of experience could help England's cause. On the field, he might even have had a chance to make up for the agonies of his previous three World Cups — his sending off in 1998 against Argentina that turned him into a figure of hate for mindless England fans and injuries that marred his tournaments in 2002 and 2006.
His earnestness and dedication over the past year was endearing and impressive, a shut-up to those skeptics who claim that modern footballers are interested only in money. To persuade the unsentimental Capello that he could still be useful, if not decisive, Beckham became one of the busiest players on the planet — turning out for two teams on opposite sides of the globe, the Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan.
Now, in light of his injury, one can't help but wonder whether Beckham's tendon betrayed him because he simply didn't get enough rest over the past 12 months while putting in double shifts to impress Capello.
Saying "it's never bothered me," Beckham had brushed off those who questioned whether he risked playing himself into the ground — concerns that seem prophetic now. The millionaire even reached into his own very deep pockets to compensate the Galaxy while he stayed for longer than originally planned at Milan, where Capello also had played and later coached.
Beckham also juggled his marketing obligations, promoted England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup and, sporting a Mohawk haircut and beautifully tailored suit, stole some of the limelight assisting at the World Cup draw in December. Somewhere, somehow, one assumes, he must also have made time for his wife Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham and their three sons.
It was, in hindsight, either going to all add up to a World Cup place for Beckham or a breakdown. And in the end, Beckham's spell at Milan both achieved his goal of impressing Capello but also proved to be his undoing. His Achilles tore in the closing minutes of a 1-0 win over Chievo Verona on Sunday that moved Milan to within one point of Serie A leader Inter Milan.
"David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow," Capello said.
What Capello is far too diplomatic to say is that he would have been absolutely crushed had this been a season-ending injury to Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand or other mainstays of the England squad.
Before operating on the world's most famous tendon, Finnish surgeon Sakari Orava spoke Monday of a "glimmer of hope" that Beckham might recover for the World Cup.
Unlikely. If this was Rooney, England would bend over backward to rush the striker back into action — as it did for Beckham when he broke a bone in his left foot two months before the 2002 World Cup.
But that won't happen for a player who will turn 35 in May.
Rooney, especially, has been scoring so many for Manchester United that it is hard to see England going far in South Africa without him.
The same was no longer true of Beckham. He was only going to be a substitute, at best, in South Africa.
It would have been nostalgic, heartwarming and a fitting reward for his efforts to see Beckham play — as it was last week when Milan manager Leonardo fielded him for the last 25 minutes of the Italian side's 4-0 Champions League defeat to Man U. Beckham's crosses in front of goal were still laser-like in their accuracy and he nearly scored with a powerful volley.
The Old Trafford crowd, for old times sake, gave the former United player a rousing welcome. But, unlike Rooney, who scored twice, Beckham was never going to win the game.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester@ap.org.
Glamour boy Beckham to miss World Cup after injury
LONDON — Unless David Beckham can mend it as well as he can bend it, football's now-limping glamour boy will miss this summer's World Cup — a blow to tournament organizers, sponsors, TV viewers and average fans.
Beckham underwent surgery Monday for a "totally torn" left Achilles' tendon and is expected to be out of action for about six months, said Dr. Sakari Orava, who performed the operation. The 34-year-old midfielder was injured Sunday while playing for Italian club AC Milan.
"He will have to take it very easy during the next two to three weeks or a month, and then he will continue with a recuperation program slowly," Orava told The Associated Press. "The foot won't take much strain for two to three months."
Orava also said it would be "four months to running," and another two months before playing.
Beckham's spokesman, Simon Oliveira, said the tendon was completely repaired, and he expected Beckham to return to the game.
"David is expected to make a full recovery," Oliveira said.
That means Beckham won't be bending free kicks or curling pinpoint passes at the World Cup that begins June 11 in South Africa — what he had hoped would be his fourth appearance for England at the tournament.
But most experts expect that Becks will eventually be back.
He has such a giant personality that his legacy may even grow stronger.
"While it's a horrible setback for the man — everybody knows how much he would have loved to be at the World Cup — his future is as bright as it's ever been because of the kind of following he's built up in the last decade," celebrity publicist Max Clifford told The Associated Press.
Beckham was injured in the closing minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo Verona. Walking with crutches, he was cheered by hundreds of fans as he checked into a hospital in Turku, Finland, after arriving by private jet.
"I hope to make a swift and full recovery," Beckham said in a statement before surgery.
Rich Mkhondo, a spokesman for the World Cup organizing committee, called Beckham a "household name" and said that "if he had been at the World Cup in South Africa it would have enhanced spectator presence. We wish him luck and hope that he has a speedy recovery. We would love it if he recovers in time and is picked to play at the World Cup."
Even if Beckham's playing days are over, he has plenty of off-the-field commitments and earning power to keep him busy.
Beckham earned a reported $16.5 million in personal sponsorship deals in his first full season with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. A separate company, Brand Beckham, receives his $5.5 million base salary from the Galaxy, the share of merchandising he generates for the club, and joint endorsements with his pop-star wife, Victoria, including their range of fragrances.
Scott Guglielmino, ESPN's vice president of programming, said the network might even want to use Beckham as a commentator on its World Cup telecasts.
"I think anybody with David's credentials and World Cup experience would be a tremendous addition to anyone's coverage of the World Cup," Guglielmino said. "But I think it's a little too early to answer what his plans are."
Beckham has sponsorship deals with Adidas, Motorola and Armani, among others.
"Brand Beckham is the most famous brand in world football," Clifford said. "He's become a star outside football. In terms of earnings, advertising, sponsors and offers, there is no reason the next two or three years should not be as successful as the last two or three years because of what he brings to the table."
Bobby Charlton, star of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, thinks Beckham will at least return to playing club football.
"I don't know if we will see him in an England shirt again. I hope so," Charlton said. "I have known him for a long time and he gets a lot of pleasure out of playing the game. Forget about all the finance and the hyperbole that goes with it, he just loves playing football."
The bottom line: Never count Beckham out. He rose from humble roots in east London to become one of the most famous athletes on the planet. He's absorbed some major setbacks over the years, and always managed to bounce back and defy the critics:
— Beckham was hung in effigy by some England fans after being red-carded against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, only to come back as England captain at the 2002 tournament.
— After a stellar career at Manchester United, he was dumped by manager Alex Ferguson in 2003, but went on to win a Spanish league title with Real Madrid.
— Beckham tearfully relinquished the England captaincy after the team went out of the 2006 World Cup, yet managed to regain a place with national team and surpass the milestone of 100 appearances (he's now at 115).
Beckham is no longer considered a vital member of the England team, whose star player is striker Wayne Rooney. Although Beckham was likely to be picked for the World Cup squad, he was not expected to be a starter. He is now considered more valuable coming off the bench to provide a spark in the second half.
There's a good chance Beckham could be in South Africa as a face of England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
"He is a huge asset to the bid — there is no question about that," Football Association chairman David Triesman said. "He is very charismatic and an extremely decent person who will do all and anything to help his country."
If Beckham makes a full recovery, he could return to the England team for its qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championship. The first matches are in September.
Beckham could certainly return to the Galaxy and AC Milan if he wants.
"He'll come back from the injury. I don't think he'll want to retire on this note," former England teammate Andy Cole told BBC radio. "He'll work his socks off to try to get himself fit."
Milan would definitely welcome him back.
Beckham also has expressed interest in owning an MLS team one day.
"I want to be involved in the game in some way when I finish," he said in November. "Owning a franchise is something that's definitely possible and something that I'm really thinking about, and I think will happen eventually."
British brand consultant Simon Middleton said there is no reason Beckham won't succeed at whatever he tries, thanks to his enduring crossover appeal and upstanding reputation.
"I think probably in terms of world class football, his days have got to be numbered," Middleton said. "However, that doesn't mean his days as an icon and a brand are over at all.
"By and large he is one of those sportsmen who has managed to maintain his integrity. We've watched him grow up. He's made some mistakes and always bounced back. He's never lost that core admiration people had for him."
-- Stephen Wilson
Beckham's injury unlikely to affect England's WCup
LONDON — Going to the World Cup without David Beckham — soccer's most marketable face and most famous right foot — seems likely to affect England's tabloid coverage more than its chances on the field.
Eight years ago, England fans and coaching staff sweated on their then-captain's recovery from a broken bone in his left foot, and his perceived lack of fitness was then highlighted as one of the reasons for the team's quarterfinal loss to Brazil.
But Beckham was the main man back then.
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has remained a mainstay of newspaper coverage worldwide, and his movie star looks still help attract huge crowds wherever he goes. But he will be 35 when this year's tournament starts June 11.
Younger and faster players are on hand to fill his preferred position in right midfield and he was only going to be an occasional substitute for his country — albeit the most high-profile bench-warmer in South Africa.
"In my mind it's not that big a blow," former England captain Alan Mullery said. "I wouldn't have taken David Beckham, because I think we've got three or four who would be more useful than David. He's become what I call a bit player."
That's an assessment shared by many regular watchers of England's team.
Beckham was never the fastest, but his decreasing mobility has cramped a once startling ability to run miles in a single match. He has been used almost exclusively as a late substitute for England during the past two years.
Coach Fabio Capello may come to rue the fact that he won't be able to call him off the bench to serve up one of his famous free kicks or nerveless penalty kicks, but his absence is more likely to bother sponsors, advertisers and those simply fond of a player who pushed his teammates to heights they never would have achieved without him.
Even Capello seemed to acknowledged the injury was more of a personal misfortune than a dent in team planning.
"David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow," Capello said.
Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Bentley and Steven Gerrard all have filled Beckham's role on the right side since he stepped down as captain after the 2006 World Cup.
"As an ambassador, he's the perfect person to do the job," Mullery said. "I'm sure he would do a very good job, but we're talking about playing in the World Cup and not just being a bit player."
Beckham's injury looks to be far more serious for AC Milan's attempt to win the Italian League and the veteran midfielder's efforts to finish his illustrious career on a high.
Beckham was hurt in the latest of two loan spells away from Major League Soccer that were meant to help him maintain fitness and become the first player to make four World Cups with England.
"I'm so sorry for him because I know how he wanted to go to the World Cup," said Carlo Ancelotti, who coached Beckham at Milan last season. "He came last year to Milan above all for this, to show his quality for the England team. I hope he will make a good recovery quickly."
Beckham still has two season remaining on the $32.5 million, five-year contract that makes him the highest-paid player in the MLS. The injury typically takes several months to recover from, so Beckham could return for the end of the MLS season even if he sits out the World Cup.
"Big countries like England have to be able to adapt to injuries to players like Becks," said Roy Keane, his former captain at Manchester United. "It is unfortunate but on the other hand he has been to other World Cups before, so he can count his blessings. Becks has been very fortunate throughout his career with serious injuries, so I'm sure he'll be back."
-- Stuart Condie
Capello starts planning for WCup without Beckham
LONDON — England coach Fabio Capello expressed sadness Monday that David Beckham's ruptured Achilles' tendon will prevent him from playing at the World Cup.
Beckham underwent surgery Monday on his left Achilles' tendon and Capello remains hopeful that the 34-yera-old midfielder will be fit for England's European Championship qualification campaign, which begins in September.
"I hope he will be fit for the Euros because he is always one of the best players," Capello said.
Beckham was injured Sunday during the final minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 Italian league win over Chievo Verona when he was by himself with the ball at his feet.
"I am very sad for David that he has suffered this injury," Capello said. "David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow."
Capello's plans in South Africa aren't likely to be affected much by the injury. Beckham stayed on the bench in the friendly against Egypt earlier this month and was only used as a substitute in the last two World Cup qualifiers.
But Capello, who previously coached Beckham at Real Madrid, has insisted that Beckham was still "really dangerous" with his crossing and viewed his experience as a key weapon for South Africa.
Beckham joined Milan on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to stay in shape during the MLS offseason to boost his chances of becoming the country's first player to appear at four World Cups.
Football Association chairman David Triesman paid tribute to Beckham's determination to make the South Africa squad by going almost directly from the MLS season to Milan instead of opting to rest up.
"I am very, very sad for David that he has suffered this kind of injury at a time when he might have set a record for World Cup appearances," Triesman told The Associated Press. "David put a huge amount of work in playing much longer than a normal season to ensure he was fit and ready to play in the World Cup.
"Fabio Capello chooses the squad and the teams, but I do know just how committed David has been to playing in the World Cup and everybody knows just how strongly he feels about representing England. I feel for him as a sportsman and a patriotic Englishman."
Beckham could still be in South Africa as part of the England bid team campaigning to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022, but Triesman says the FA is just focused on Beckham's recovery.
"He has gone off to see what can be done to repair the damage and I'll be waiting to hear that his health is fully restored," Triesman said. "We aren't ready to speculate when he would be ready to do things (for the bid) since our first thoughts are that he recovers.
"He is a huge asset to the bid — there is no question about to that. He is very charismatic and an extremely decent person who will do all and anything to help his country."
He shifted his weight, reached a hand down to his left heel and then stood up and snapped his wrists like he was breaking a twig in half.
Beckham's international career could now be over after 115 appearances, second in English history behind only goalkeeper Peter Shilton's 125.
Beckham, who began his career at Manchester United in 1992, made his England debut against Moldova in September 1996.
Despite being the game's most recognizable face, the furthest Beckham reached at the World Cup was the quarterfinals — in 2002 and 2006.
Beckham quit as captain after the 2006 World Cup in Germany and was initially dropped by coach Steve McClaren in August, but he was restored as England's European Championship campaign faltered.
McClaren was fired in November 2008 after failing to qualify for Euro 2008, and Beckham survived Capello's takeover.
Beckham's injury is likely to boost the chances of Theo Walcott and Shaun Wright-Phillips making Capello's 23-man World Cup squad, although England's most dangerous attacking player on the right flank — Aaron Lennon — is still a doubt for South Africa.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said Sunday that Lennon is "quite a way off" from making his comeback from a groin injury that has sidelined him since December.
-- Rob Harris
Explainer of torn Achillles' tendon
LONDON — David Beckham's torn Achilles' tendon may end his chances of playing in the World Cup, but the injury is hardly surprising — especially for an elite athlete.
The Achilles' tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the bone in the heel of the foot, is the most commonly torn tendon in the body. The tendon is usually torn when the leg is straight and the calf muscle contracts.
It typically takes several months for athletes to fully recover.
"With Beckham, you never say never, but if it's a complete tear, it's very unlikely he'll be fit enough for the World Cup," said Jonathan Rees, a sports medicine expert and spokesman for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine.
"With early surgery, Beckham might get back into training in three months' time, but that wouldn't give him enough time to be match-fit for June."
Doctors said if the footballer had only partially torn his Achilles' tendon, there was a slight possibility he might be ready to play in South Africa.
"If it's only a partial tear, you can start rehabilitation earlier and be much more aggressive," said Dr. Victor Khabie, chief of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in New York and a former assistant team physician for the Los Angeles Galaxy team.
That could potentially cut Beckham's recovery time in half, he said.
"There's a small chance that (Beckham) could be ready, but it's still not a great chance," Khabie said.
Tearing the Achilles tendon can happen even without a major incident, particularly in athletes whose bodies are under the continual stress of physical training. Beckham has had little time off, playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer and then going on loan with AC Milan in Italy.
The injury is most common in tennis players, football players, basketball players, and runners. A study published earlier this year found that one third of National Football League players who hurt their Achilles' tendon never returned to playing professionally.
In Beckham's case, he was on his own in the center circle before he began hopping on his right leg, grimacing in pain during AC Milan's 1-0 victory over Chievo Verona on Sunday.
"With the Achilles' tendon, you can have a lot of wear and tear happening over your career so the tendon itself is weakened," Rees explained. "The final event that tears it can be quite innocuous."
Beckham was in tears after the injury and was carried off the field on a stretcher. Khabie said that was consistent with the pain of a complete tear.
"It feels like someone kicking you in the back of the heel very hard, and if you are in severe pain, it's likely the tendon has snapped," he said.
People who tear their Achilles' tendon have major swelling and are unable to put any weight on their ankle or foot. Beckham generally kicks the ball with his right foot.
Certain medications increase the risk of tearing the Achilles' tendon, like antibiotics or medicines to reduce inflammation like corticosteroids. It is not known whether Beckham was on any such treatment.
Doctors typically fix torn Achilles' tendons with surgery. After the operation, patients are outfitted with a cast or brace to help the tendon heal, for about six to eight weeks. That makes Beckham's chances of playing in June at the World Cup unlikely, experts say.
Khabie said Beckham would likely want to be fully recovered before resuming play, since reinjuring the tendon could end his career entirely.
"It might put him out of the World Cup, but he could be back to form in about a year or less," Khabie said.
-- Maria Cheng
Beckham's surgeon has operated on many athletes
ROME — David Beckham is the latest in a string of high-profile athletes to go to Finland for surgery with tendon specialist Dr. Sakari Orava.
Others who preceded the Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan star included AC Milan players Dario Simic and Giuseppe Pancaro, long jumper Andrew Howe, Olympic champion gymnast Jury Chechi and skier Peter Fill.
Like Beckham, Simic tore his Achilles' tendon while playing for Milan in 2004. Contacted by The Associated Press on Monday, Simic recalled that he had surgery with Orava in November 2004 and returned three months later.
"It was partially torn, and the surgery went very well," said Simic, who now plays for French club AS Monaco. "I've never had any problems with my Achilles since then."
Fill tore four tendons in his upper thigh and groin and two tendons in his abdomen during a fall in summer training last year.
"They were all completely torn from the bone," Fill told the AP. "I thought there was no way I would be back for the Olympics. I was already concentrating on next season. It was a very strange injury and it was suggested that I see Orava. I was told he's the best in the world at tendon repairs."
Fill had surgery Sept. 3 and was back skiing four months later, finishing eighth in the strenuous downhill in Wengen, Switzerland, in his first race back in January. He then placed 15th in the downhill at the Vancouver Olympics.
The chief physician for the Italian Winter Sports Federation, Rodolfo Tavana, formerly worked with AC Milan for 16 years and suggested Orava to Fill.
"I was a bit afraid when I got there because the waiting room is very small, but once they took me upstairs, everything was extremely professional and (Orava) did a great job," Fill said.
Orava placed a titanium plate and multiple screws inside Fill's body to hold his tendons together.
"He's not one of those doctors that shows up at the start of the surgery and lets others take care of the rest," Fill said. "They only gave me a local anesthetic, so I was awake the whole time and he was there from start to finish, explaining things to me as it went along and telling me it was going well. He followed my progress in rehab from start to finish. We mailed him the tests."
-- Andrew Dampf
Beckham keeps British papers working late
LONDON — Although David Beckham is far removed from his best days on the field, the football star-pop icon's injury still made headlines in British newspapers on Monday.
The 34-year-old Beckham injured his left Achilles' tendon late Sunday while playing in Italy for AC Milan, a setback that will almost definitely keep him out of England's team at this year's World Cup.
"David Beckham has fallen victim to the silent assassin of footballers, the snapped Achilles, the injury that occurs even when no opponent is close by, the incapacitation that brings curtains down on careers," Henry Winter wrote in the Daily Telegraph. "Even for those who felt his usefulness to the England national team had long gone, this is a desperately sad development."
Beckham has played in three previous World Cups for England, and the former captain was hoping to be the first player from his country to take part in a fourth — even if it would have been as a substitute rather than a starter.
"Although he may not always have started games, he's a fantastic option to have if things aren't going right and you need someone to get crosses over in the last 15 or 20 minutes of a game," former England coach Terry Venables told The Sun.
Beckham became a star on the football field when he played for Manchester United, helping the English team win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999. Also during his years in Manchester, the midfielder married former "Spice Girls" singer Victoria Adams — aka "Posh Spice" — and became regular fodder for the British tabloids.
Through it all, he continued to be a factor on the field, spending four years with Real Madrid before moving to Major League Soccer and the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
Although the MLS is seen as a minor league in Europe, Beckham was still able to make his 100 international appearance for England in March 2008. For the last two seasons, he has secured loan deals to AC Milan in the American offseason, helping him stay with the national team.
Still, it's been a long time since Beckham regularly scored from his swerving free kicks.
Neil Custis, writing for The Sun, said Beckham "was no longer the man who influenced games at the top level."
"There were doubts he would be in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad and it was also questionable he would have any influence over the tournament," Custis added. "Now he will not."
In The Independent, Sam Wallace was already looking past the Beckham saga and concentrating on what will benefit England in South Africa.
"If there was any consolation for Fabio Capello last night upon hearing the news that David Beckham had snapped his Achilles tendon," Wallace wrote, "then it was this: at least it was not Wayne Rooney."
-- Chris Lehourites
Beckham projected to return in mid-September
CARSON, California — If David Beckham recovers from a torn Achilles' tendon in six months, he would rejoin Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy in time for the team's last six regular-season games.
The 34-year-old midfielder had surgery Monday, a day after injuring his foot while on his second loan to Italy's AC Milan. Dr. Sakari Orava said after operating that Beckham is expected to be out of action for about half a year.
"Injuries are an unfortunate part of our game and they are even more disappointing when they happen to a player who was so close to realizing his dream of representing his nation at this summer's World Cup," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said in a statement. "We will give David our complete support to make sure that he is able to get himself back to full health before he returns to the field. David remains an important player for the Galaxy and we look forward to welcoming him back to the club and assisting him in his recovery."
The projected timetable has Beckham returning to play after Los Angeles' Sept. 11 home game against Columbus, in time for the Sept. 18 home match against D.C. United.
The Galaxy host New York on Sept. 24, are the road team against local rival Chivas USA on Oct. 3, then play four days later at expansion Philadelphia. The Galaxy close at home against Colorado on Oct. 16 and Dallas on Oct. 24.
Beckham had two goals and three assists in 11 regular-season matches with the Galaxy last year, his third season with the team. Los Angeles advanced to the MLS final before losing to Salt Lake on penalty kicks.
Beckham Statement: 'Hope to make swift and full recovery'
LONDON — David Beckham says he hopes to make a "swift and full recovery" from the ruptured Achilles' tendon, an injury that will likely prevent him from playing at the World Cup.
The England midfielder issued a statement Monday as he flew to Finland to see a specialist.
The 34-year-old Beckham got hurt Sunday during the final minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 Italian league win over Chievo Verona. He was by himself in the center circle when he took a pass with his left foot, stepped back awkwardly and started hopping on his right foot with an expression of pain on his face.
Beckham said that "I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of support."
Beckham, who is on loan at Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, added that he hopes "to make a swift and full recovery."
Organizers disappointed with Beckham injury
JOHANNESBURG — World Cup organizers have expressed their disappointment with the Achilles' tendon injury that is expected to cause David Beckham to miss the tournament.
Local Organizing Committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo told The Associated Press Monday that Beckham is a "household name" and that his presence would be missed.
Mkhondo also said the organizing committee wishes Beckham luck and that they would love him to be at the World Cup in South Africa if he recovers in time.
On Sunday, a person familiar with the injury told the AP that Beckham "will miss the World Cup for sure."
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The person said it was likely Beckham will play again.
