Beckham hardly merits being in England team says former captain

Former England captain Terry Butcher has hit out at David Beckham claiming his performances during the last three years hardly merit him being in the team.

Butcher, writing in his column on BBC Sport online, said Beckham's fame had helped him stay in the side when his performances dipped.

Real Madrid midfielder Beckham, whose performances in Euro 2004 came in for criticism, again had questions asked about his form after Saturday's 2-2 World Cup draw in Austria.

Butcher, a tough centreback for Ipswich and England during the 80's, believes any other player would have gone by now and said the side had to improve markedly in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Chorzow, Poland.

"There has been criticism of Beckham and I think he is now the closest he has ever been to playing himself out of the team," Butcher wrote.

"If it wasn't Beckham wearing that number seven shirt and playing like that, a lot of people would be saying what a wretched match he had and should be dropped."

"Ask yourself this question. When did Beckham last have a really great game for England? Against Greece almost three years ago is the answer."

"He has done bits and pieces with set-pieces and corners and a couple of goals but he hasn't produced consistently."

"You can't keep playing players if they don't do the business for England but Beckham seems to be the exception."

"Beckham won't like it but the harsh fact is that if you play for England you have to do the business."