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Beckham points finger at players

David Beckham was close to the squad in South Africa © Getty Images

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David Beckham has insisted England's abject efforts at the World Cup are the fault of the players rather than manager Fabio Capello.

England came home from South Africa with their tails firmly between their legs following their second-round exit to Germany. The 4-1 loss to the eventual semi-finalists was the tip of the iceberg, as the team were poor throughout the group stage.

Capello bore the brunt of the media criticism for failing to deliver on the promising qualifying effort, but Beckham is convinced the players have to shoulder the blame.

"The team knows, and individuals know that as a team it wasn't good enough," Beckham told Sky Sports News. "It was disappointing the way we performed as a team. At times we showed we can play great football, but on the whole it wasn't good enough.

"At times it's hard to explain. The setup was right, the camp was amazing, the facilities were first class, everything was perfect. It was down to the players performing.

"People talk about the manager not being right for the job anymore; that shouldn't even be in question. Up until the World Cup, his record was amazing. Everybody was happy with it then. It comes down to the team going out and performing, and it wasn't good enough.

"A lot of people have questioned the players' passion though, and one thing I will say is that these players have passion.

"There weren't any divisions, there were discussions, but it was down to the performance of the guys and they know it wasn't good enough. But these players have come back from difficult times before, and our players have got the passion to do that."

Beckham has been put forward as a future England manager, but he is leaning away from throwing his hat into the ring.

He said: "Never say never, but I must admit management is never something I've wanted to do. I don't think I'll ever want to do it in the future. But I always say never say never."

Beckham missed the World Cup on account of injury picked up while on loan at Milan and it is not something he will look to repeat, with his focus on LA Galaxy.

"It's something I'd have to think about carefully now," he said when questioned on whether he would look to go out on loan again. "I don't think it'd happen to be honest because this injury came about because I was pushing it too hard for the last two years. I could have had a few months' rest instead of going to Milan.

"I did it for a good reason, to be part of the England team, but this time around when the season ends in LA I'm going to have to have a rest and get myself fit."

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