Beckham midfield role could be changed for friendly

Darren Anderton's introduction to the England squad could see David Beckham take a place in centre midfield for the friendly against France.

Saturday's game allows England coach Kevin Keegan to test Beckham's recent good form by placing Anderton in a wide role and allowing the Manchester United star to take control of passing in the centre of the side - a major weakness identified by Keegan in England's poor play at Euro 2000.

The England team met up yesterday at Burnham in preparation for this weeks friendly match against France in Paris. Darren Anderton and Nick Barmby were two of the England players asked to face the English press. Both are set to start against the World and European champions in Paris.

Darren Anderton has been chosen to play in an England shirt for the first time in 18 months a game that was also played against France.

Darren Anderton "I think it was just after Glenn Hoddle had gone and Howard Wilkinson had (temporarily) taken over, and they played very well that night, didn't they, and it was a difficult game for sure.

They are a fantastic team, France, and, you know, they had the same sort of team over the last couple of years, and obviously seen them win the World Cup and the European Championships. Of course they're fantastic individuals, but they play so well as a team."

This is the first time that Anderton has played for coach Kevin Keegan. He has missed out on many internationals, most notably Euro 2000 due to a series of injuries.

Darren Anderton "Everyone knows the history of my injuries and everything and the last thing I want to be is injured. But in the past I've played maybe when I shouldn't have done and that has caused me problems the following season or something like that.

My Achilles tendon was the most serious injury I've had in my career and it's something that really did worry me when it happened. The fact that I came back and everything was a success was great, but towards the end of last season I was feeling a little bit sore, the hard grounds were coming back again, and so I went to see the surgeon and he advised me not to play, and I left it down to him, really, and thought that I didn't want to push it one too many. At times that is what I have done in the past."

Darren Anderton missed out on Euro 2000 following injury. What did he think of the teams performance during that time?

Darren Anderton "I don't know, really. I think it was a little bit unfortunate. I think everyone knows that we could have done better, but that's something that I'm sure the manager would like to improve on. But it's very difficult when you go into international football now.

Even though people have criticised the way the team did, we were only a minute away from going into the quarter finals. It could have all been so different. So I don't know, really. It's confidence. We were just a little bit unlucky I felt at the end."

Nick Barmby was part of the Euro 2000 squad. This is the first time that the team has met up since the competition. What had Keegan said to his players?

Nick Barmby "We had a little meeting this morning, saying look lads, let's get our heads down and look forward to the France game. I think you've only got to look forward now. That's gone now, the European Championships. This is a new start, if you like, and everyone is looking forward to the France game, and the manager is as bubbly as ever and everyone remains very positive."

"Like Darren says, you know, we were a minute away from the quarter finals, and that's football, you know. It's ifs and buts, but the squad we've got here, I know people keep on saying it, but honestly, I can assure you, the skill is phenomenal, I'm sure Darren will say the same, with the players we've got here. We have got the players and it's just getting it right and I'm sure the manager, he will get it right."

England were heavily criticised, during Euro 2000 and after, for being unable to keep control of and to pass the ball.

Nick Barmby "I know what you're saying and you're right, you know, the lads know that we should have kept the ball a lot more. The manager said that and he is right, but I don't know, we couldn't really put your finger on it.

It was just one of them things, but you learn from your mistakes, you know, and hopefully we can do that a lot better and there's no better way than Saturday playing against the world champions and the European champions, and hopefully we can do that."

What did Barmby think of the criticism levelled at the team due to their performances during Euro 2000?

Nick Barmby "A few people go over the top, but at the end of the day, yes, the criticism was fair. You know, we didn't keep the ball as much as we can do, and everyone holds their hands up for that, the manager did, the players have done that.

We just -- we thought we were good enough to get out of the group. We were a minute away from doing that, but it's just one of those things. You know, the criticism is fair and you go back and like I said before you get your head down and try to do better."