The most important free kick

David Beckham knew a lot on the field, but he was especially good at standard positions. Regarding the execution of free kicks and corner kicks, units on the planet could compare with it. In meetings with David's teams, the rivals tried not to break the rules near their own free kick. Everyone knew that the seventh number puts balls on the “nines” like a hand.

“I always succeeded in penalties. For years, I enjoyed training and tried to achieve the highest skill for my club and the England team. Perhaps the most famous free kick I struck in a match with Greece at Old Trafford Stadium in 2001. Then my last-minute goal brought England to the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Remained about a minute of playing time, and we had to beat the free kick from about 30 meters. I put the ball on the mark, and 60 thousand fans in the stands held me. His contribution was made by Teddy Sheringham, who blocked the goalkeeper's review. What happened next, everyone knows, ”Beckham said years later.

Goals from standards at three world championships

According to official statistics, over 19 years of speaking at a professional level, Beckham hit the wrong goal 146 times: 129 at the club level, and 17 in the England team. That is, in Russia he would have entered the symbolic club of Grigory Fedotov for football players who scored a hundred or more goals.

Becks also excelled in three consecutive world championships. And in all cases, his goals not only helped the British win, but also led the team to the next round, or significantly brought it closer to this.

In 1998, David scored Colombia with a free kick (2: 0), in 2002 - Argentina from the penalty spot (1: 0), and in 2006 - Ecuador (1: 0) in the 1/8 finals, also a direct hit from the standard . In addition, after his strikes and assists on these mundials, the partners differed several times.

Scandalous Missing Games in London

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Beckham was unable to play due to an injury, although head coach Fabio Capello still took an experienced player with him as an assistant. However, after the midfielder recovered, the Italian specialist refused to return him to the squad. Capello motivated his decision by the age of a football player. In his opinion, at the age of 35, Beckham was already too old for the national team.

But in 2012, the veteran had an excellent opportunity to end his career in the national team at the home Olympic Games in London. According to the regulations, three players over 23 years old could be included in the application. Beckham was included in the extended list of candidates, but at the last moment, coach of the British Olympic team Stuart Pearce refused his services. This decision outraged many in the country. Even Sir Paul McCartney severely criticized the mentor.

“Beckham should be the first player in the national team for his contribution to football and merit in the London Olympics. But one idiot thinks differently. I’m a little sorry for the three football players over 23 years old, because we will look at them and say: “Beckham should be in your place,” the musician raged.

Skirmish with Diego Simeone at the 1998 World Cup

In Bex's football life, there were generally scandals. The skirmish between the Englishman and the Argentinean Diego Simeone in the 1/8 finals of the 1998 World Cup in France is still memorable. In the 16th minute, David helped Michael Owen score the best goal of the tournament. And immediately after the break, Beckham, lying on the lawn, waved his foot off Simeone who fouled on it and received a red card from Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen. England lost in a penalty shootout, and David turned into an antihero for the media and fans. The fact that the Argentinean provoked the opponent throughout the game did not become an excuse.

“Simeone ran up behind me and knocked me down. When I fell, he pretended to ruffle my hair, and jerked sharply for them. I hit back by kicking him in the ankle. Of course, he fell, the job was done - I was removed from the field. It was terrible. I will always remember this minute - from the moment I was shown the red card until I left the field after the upset coach. It was the worst night of my life, ”Beckham said.

Abandoned boot by Alex Ferguson

Another scandal involving the right midfielder occurred in the Manchester United locker room and was therefore hidden from prying eyes, which gave rise to many rumors. After losing to the London Arsenal in the FA Cup in 2003, the legendary Mankunian mentor Alex Ferguson threw a boot at Beckham and cut his eyebrow.

It was rumored that the trainer was angry with the harsh answer of the seventh issue to criticism. Allegedly after saying that David looked “like a girl” against the background of the “Gunners” defender Ashley Cole, the player noticed that Ferguson, to put it mildly, had not shown himself in comparison with Arsen Wenger.

Representatives of Manchester United did not comment on this episode in the locker room for a long time, only noting that the press had inflated the scandal out of the blue. However, in 2013, Ferguson in his autobiography nevertheless admitted that a conflict with the football player took place. At the same time, he emphasized that he did not hit Beckham in the face, and accidentally hit the midfielder in the eye.

“David was about three and a half meters from me. Between us on the floor lay a series of new boots. David swore. I went in his direction, and on the way I kicked the boot, which hit him right in the eyebrow. Of course, he jumped and rushed at me, but other players stopped him. “Sit down,” I said. “You dishonor your team,” is Ferguson’s interpretation of events.

In his book, the coach did not hide the fact that at some point Beckham began to despise because of his passion for a glamorous life, parties, and also a capricious character.

"Not Beckham's Day"

In 2001, Beckham's commercial caught on around the world. According to the story of the midfielder, “Manchester United” change during the match with “Juventus”. He goes down to the tribune room and asks the boy to share sweet soda with him. The child agrees, after which he asks for a football star jersey. Beckham happily undresses, mistakenly believing that he is his personal fan. However, the boy only wipes the jar with a T-shirt, and then returns it back to the dumbfounded owner. Satisfied with his trick, the guy turns 180 degrees and it turns out that he is a fan of Juventus.

“This is just not Beckham’s day,” the voice-over states, and a sad player shakes his head in frustration and hurries into the locker room.

Advertising for soda can only be found on video hosting sites for a long time. However, the final phrase became winged and has not lost relevance to this day. It is invariably repeated in many countries in relation to a person who has something badly asked.

US conflict

As time passed, Beckham turned from a football superstar into just a good standard position performer. Over the years, the Englishman lost his former speed qualities, and therefore could no longer withstand competition in Real Madrid. In 2007, he went to the North American MLS, where he defended the colors of the Los Angeles Galaxy, and once demonstrated his accuracy in an unusual situation. In a match with San Jose Earthquakes in 2012, it seemed to him that an opponent's midfielder Sam Cronin feigned an injury and thereby delayed the time.

Beckham decided to teach a lesson to the American, who was lying on the lawn and writhed in pain, throwing a ball at him. After that, Cronin jumped up as if nothing had happened and rushed to the side of his offender. There was a little brawl. The referee quickly quenched his passions, and Beckham ultimately paid for his trick by disqualification.

End of career in Paris

But in the USA, the Englishman missed European football and twice went on loan to the Italian Milan. And David ended his career in 2013 at Paris Saint-Germain, with whom he won his last trophy - the title of champion of France. He announced his retirement on May 16. In an official letter, Becks thanked all the teammates, coaches and fans.

The Englishman spent the last game against Brest in exclusive boots, which he then transferred to the museum. In the 82nd minute, Beckham was replaced by Esekiel Lavessi. Forever leaving the field, the 38-year-old veteran could not hold back his tears. And after the final whistle, the partners arranged a celebration for him with a toss into the air.

“Football taught me a lot. In the game I learned the ups and downs, triumphs and failures. My path has been a long one, and I hope that in my life I will have many more interesting turns. Although you never know what lies ahead. I still have not given up on my choice of profession, ”he stated in his own book,“ My Training System. ”