Beckham looking past century

David Beckham is "honoured" to have the chance of winning his 100th cap against France on Wednesday, but insists he has no intention of ending his international career after reaching the milestone.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder looks certain to bring up his century of appearances against Les Bleus in Paris after new national coach Fabio Capello recalled him to the squad.

The Italian had left Beckham out of his first squad for the match against Switzerland, raising questions about his long-term future and as far ahead as the World Cup in 2010.
 
But the former skipper is clear that he sees his comeback as a long-term one.

"I've enjoyed it, enjoyed being back with the guys and training was great so I am very happy," Beckham told a news conference screened by Sky.

"I never thought a year ago or two years ago that I would make 95 caps, never mind 100. I'm honoured that I'm making, hopefully, my 100th appearance in an England shirt but I'm also honoured to be doing it against one of the best teams in the world.

"But as much as I'm honoured to be here I want it to carry on. It doesn't stop here for me. It's not about 'have your 100th game and then retire'. It's about carrying on trying to play well for my country."

On the subject of the 2010 World Cup Beckham admitted he wished to be part of the squad for both the qualifiers and the finals should England qualify for South Africa.

"I am quite a stubborn person," Beckham continued. "It is something I want to reach.

"I would love to play and be part of the squad in 2010. But I'm taking it as it comes — who knows what is round the corner?

"The combination of the players and the combination of manager and staff is setting us up right for the qualification games for the World Cup."

Speaking about Capello, who enjoyed an up-and-down relationship with Beckham during their title-winning season together at Real Madrid, he added: "Obviously I had the pleasure of having him as a manager in my last year at Real Madrid.

"I know what he's like as a manager and as a person and I also know what the coaching staff and people he's surrounded himself with are like.

"We know we have talented players; we know we have ability and we now have a manager who has vast experience in the game.

"We need to get confidence back on the pitch and off the pitch."

There have been suggestions that Beckham could be handed the captaincy should he take the field on Wednesday — but he threw his backing behind Chelsea's John Terry, who was first-choice under Steve McClaren.

"I don't know (about being given the armband)," said Beckham. "John Terry is the captain and he deserves to be. He's a great captain and he will carry on being a great captain for Chelsea and England."