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ENGLAND: BECKS SET TO MISS EURO 2008 QUALIFIERS August 30, 2007
(SomaliNet) After admitting he needs a lengthy break from the game, David Beckham is a serious doubt for England's forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers.
The midfielder suffered a knee injury in LA Galaxy's SuperLiga final defeat to Pachuca on penalties, and was already carrying an ankle niggle.
He now faces up to six weeks out and - if a scan confirms the extent of the injury - will miss the home games against Israel and Russia next month.
"It's just gone from one thing to another thing," said Beckham. "Maybe it's time for me to just say, 'I need the rest,' and get it right and don't come back until it's right."
"It doesn't feel good. With a ligament strain it is four-to-six weeks. We will have to wait and see."
Beckham suffered a strained knee in a 31st-minute challenge with Pachuca's Fernando Salazar - both players simultaneously making strong contact with the ball.
The England midfielder looked to have jarred his right knee and rolled on the ground in obvious pain.
He slowly stood up and motioned to the bench before limping off the field.
Galaxy physio Ivan Pierra helped Beckham back to the Galaxy bench while coach Frank Yallop sent on Alan Gordon as a replacement.
Galaxy have an MLS match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday and Beckham has already missed eight of Galaxy's 12 games since he joined the club on July 13.
Beckham watched from the sidelines as Chris Klein scored a last-minute equaliser for Galaxy to force the final into extra-time, with Pachuca eventually winning 4-3 on penalties to claim the SuperLiga trophy and one million US dollars.
He played 90 minutes for England in the friendly defeat against Germany at Wembley on August 22 and 90 minutes for Galaxy a day later but did not travel to Colorado for Sunday's league match.
Beckham had started the game looking as fit as he has at any time since joining Galaxy and creating several early chances.
Finding himself unmarked on the right flank in the seventh minute he swung a cross into the heart of the penalty area but Landon Donovan headed over.
Pachuca went ahead in the 28th minute when Peter Vagenas, attempting to clear a Christian Gimenez cross, sliced into his own net.
Klein's late leveller sent the match into extra-time but they lost the subsequent penalty shoot-out when Abel Xavier dragged his spot-kick wide.-Eurosport