Beckham would 'do a Maradona'

June 6, 2002

David Beckham has revealed that he would be prepared to score a 'Hand of God' goal against Argentina if it ensured England of victory.

Beckham said he is not going into the match planning to cheat, and initially said he did not know if he could copy Maradona.

But he then changed his mind and said: "Of course I would."

Beckham added that England's players are "definitely not cynical enough".

However, earlier he and Michael Owen said they would try to win with dignity.

Argentina's victorious team taunted England when the two team coaches were parked next to each other after the last match-up in 1998.

The scenes added to the bitter disappointment felt by an England side who had failed to avenge the quarter-final defeat in the infamous Diego Maradona "Hand of God" quarter-final in Mexico in 1986.

Beckham hopes it will prove third time lucky and said: "We know what this game means to the nation, but I know we will act a lot better than Argentina did then.

"I'm not criticising them because they went through to the next round, but I know we will behave differently if we win. That is their way.

"They are cunning players and if they can use things to gain the advantage they will do that. The English are not as cunning as that.

"We are professionals. We wouldn't expect our players to play certain tricks - it's a different mentality.

"I definitely won't be doing what I did in 1998 again. Maybe what happened in 1998 was a blessing in disguise. Of course I didn't want it to happen, but it made me the person and player I am today.

"There is a lot surrounding England and Argentina games after what happened in the last World Cup and in World Cups before that, but we have to forget the past and remember what's in the future.

"We are looking forward to this game."

And Owen added: "I have played against Argentina before and against Argentine players before.

"They do play a different style of football. There is a lot more shirt-pulling and grabbing, so it is easier said than done not to react to it, but it is going to be heat of the moment stuff and hope we will keep our heads."

BBC Sport Online