Theo Walcott has revealed how David Beckham can turn him into a
world beater in South Africa.
The winger is delighted Beckham will be part of the England
set-up at the World Cup to pass on technical advice.
Fast learner: Walcott has pace to burn and now
Beckham is going to help him with his delivery
Walcott said yesterday: 'He has always told me to deliver the
ball into the space and if there is noone there, it is not your
problem.
'You just need to put the ball in the space and someone should
get on the end of it. That's what he's done. He's a fantastic
crosser and having him there can only help. You look at someone who
has won so many things and it makes you want to get the best out of
yourself.'
Walcott, who idolised Beckham as a young player and was thrilled
to pull on the England No 7 shirt against Mexico on Monday, added:
'It's a shame his injuries mean he won't have a chance to play in a
last World Cup and he is a big miss but just having him around can
only help us.'
Walcott has a feeling the England wide boys can shock the world
in South Africa. While other areas, notably central midfield, may
concern Fabio Capello ahead of Sunday's friendly against Japan, he
is blessed with great variety out wide.
Inspiration: David Beckham talks to Theo
Walcott
There is the electric pace of Walcott and Aaron Lennon, the
trickery of Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips, the industry of
James Milner and the adapted talents of Joe Cole and Steven
Gerrard.
Capello boasts another weapon in Beckham, arguably the world's
finest crosser of a football during the last 15 years. Beckham will
fly out with the squad on Wednesday and stay in the team hotel near
Rustenburg.
He will be considered a permanent member of England's backroom
staff and will help those striving to swing crosses on to the heads
of Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch.
The best results of the Italian's tenure have come home and away
against Croatia in the qualifying campaign when the inspiration
came from the right wing.
There was Walcott's brilliant hat-trick in Zagreb and Lennon's
exhilarating first half-hour which terrorised the Croats and set up
a 5-1 win at Wembley.
They have both been criticised for inconsistency but Capello has
options. If Walcott's pace cannot penetrate, he can throw on the
dancing feet of Lennon or Adam Johnson.
The England boss is expected to start with a 4-4-2 formation
against Japan, although he is yet to finalise his personnel.
Gerrard's injury scare offers Capello the chance to see Joe Cole
in an England shirt for the first time since his knee injury. Cole,
Milner and Adam Johnson were all tried on the left in training
yesterday, Wright-Phillips, Lennon and Walcott on the right.
You can win without wingers. Sir Alf Ramsey didn't pick any from
the quarter-final onwards in 1966, playing a 4-4-2 formation
without traditional wide men. Selecting Martin Peters and Alan Ball
to play left and right midfield respect ively, the 'wingless
wonders' marched on to conquer the world - and Ball was man of the
match in the final.
