Eriksson insists Beckham still England's leader - for now at least

Sven-Goran Eriksson has insisted that he still regards David Beckham as the natural choice to lead England into next year's World Cup finals.

But for the first time, England's head coach has dropped a hint that the Real Madrid midfielder will have to improve on recent performances in the national shirt if he is to retain his position as both captain and an automatic choice.

Beckham will turn 31 in the month before the finals kick off in Germany and his position has been subject to increasing scrutiny in the wake of his below-par displays at Euro 2004.

Shaun Wright-Phillips' emergence as a serious alternative on the right of midfield has sharpened the debate over whether Beckham is a spent force.

When asked to talk about the issue, particularly in front of the television cameras, Eriksson continues affects an air of bemusement that the question should even arise.

"All these discussions about David Beckham not being the captain, not playing with the team or being finished with England - I never understood that I must say," Eriksson said ahead of Wednesday night's friendly against Holland at Villa Park.

Yet in virtually in the same breath the Swede was voicing his confidence that Beckham would use Wednesday's friendly to prove he was still worth his place in the side - a suggestion containing an implicit recognition that there was some substance to the criticism the captain has received of late.

"I suppose that David has had even bigger nights than a friendly against Holland but I'm sure he will want to demonstrate that he's not finished as a player - and of course he's not.!

"Sometimes I know that David Beckham could have done better but he has more or less all the time done a good job for England."

It was hardly the most ringing of endorsements but arguably it will be even more worrying for Beckham that Eriksson was prepared to totally reshape his team in order to give Wright-Phillips the chance to impress on the right wing against the Dutch.

"Shaun is a big talent and doing very well. He deserves his chance," Eriksson said.

As well as pondering the Beckham/Wright-Phillips conundrum, Eriksson has also been giving some thought as to how he can ensure that Wayne Rooney's impact on the international stage is not reduced by his volatile temperament.

The Manchester United teenager had to be substituted on his last international outing, against Spain in November, to avoid him being sent off and similar stroppiness almost got him red carded in the recent clash between his club and Arsenal.

Eriksson, ever the kindly headmaster, has no intention of taking an authoritarian line with his gifted but wayward star pupil.

"I might speak to him but I won't make a big thing of it. Wayne is one of the biggest talents we have in this country and I want him to be protected," he said.

"Of course, I don't want him to get a red card but I don't think he has a problem. You can't take away his temperament as that takes away part of why he is such a good player."

"He hates to lose. In the second half at Arsenal, he was absolutely perfect."

Rooney's unique genius is one of the reasons Eriksson is still happy doing the job he started with a 3-0 win over Spain at Villa Park four years ago.

"I've always said I'm very proud to have this job. But the main reason that I'm still in the job is that I think we can reach the World Cup final," he revealed.

"You have to be lucky, with no injuries, and four weeks' preparation, but I think we can do it."