England v Ecuador - Preview

No more excuses says Beckham as Eriksson tinkers

David Beckham is determined to banish the memory of England's timid 2002 World Cup exit as his team prepares to face Ecuador for a place in the quarter-finals here Sunday.

Beckham believes England may never have a better chance of winning the World Cup than this year, and is desperate to atone for what he sees as a missed opportunity four years ago in Japan.

England were beaten 2-1 in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Brazil despite taking a 1-0 lead and seeing the South Americans reduced to 10 men early in the second half.

"I was gutted after we got beat by Brazil in Japan because I did think that when we'd gone 1-0 up we'd put ourselves in a good position to go on and win it from there," he said.

"But it wasn't meant to be. Now this time is the best chance I feel we've had for many years."

Even allowing for the tournament-ending injury to striker Michael Owen and the lack of match sharpness of Wayne Rooney, he thinks England are still strong enough to end a 40-year wait for a second World Cup victory.

"There's no excuses this time," Beckham said. "In the past we've gone out of competitions at stages when we should have gone further. It's up to us now -- we're the ones who can progress as a team.

"I think all the players in the squad who've been around for a while and played in World Cups before do realise that chances as good as this don't come that often," he said.

"We're an English team, playing in Europe, playing in Germany, the weather's been great for us most of the time. Everything is right.

Though England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has insisted that Beckham was not an 'untouchable' member of his squad, there is not even the remotest chance that the Swede will drop his captain from the starting line-up.

What shape that line-up is remains open to speculation, with Eriksson reported to be preparing yet another new-look line-up with Michael Carrick introduced as a defensive midfielder.

Tottenham player Carrick will sit in front of the back four in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Owen Hargreaves shunted to right back despite excelling in the holding role against Sweden. Hargreaves will replace Jamie Carragher, who is expected to be demoted to he bench.

Ecuador coach Luis Suarez meanwhile insists that his team will not be intimidated by the prospect of tackling England.

"What we have done is not all," Suarez said. "There is more to come. The World Cup has not ended for Ecuador.

"There is no reason for us to feel beaten before the match. If we are going to lose, let it be during the match, not before."

Ecuador looked impressive when beating Poland 2-0 and Costa Rica 3-0 in their opening matches and Suarez is confident his side can recover that form.

"The team are happy about what they've done so far," he said "We have already earned respect. I hope we continue to make history."

Teams

England

Paul Robinson, Owen Hargreaves, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Michael Carrick, David Beckham (capt), Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Wayne Rooney. Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson

Ecuador

Cristian Mora, Ulises De La Cruz, Ivan Hurtado (capt), Giovanny Espinoza, Neicer Reasco, Edison Mendez, Segundo Castillo, Edwin Tenorio, Luis Valencia, Agustin Delgado, Carlos Tenorio. Coach: Luis Suarez

Referee

Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)