Beckham hails Scholes
England captain David Beckham has paid tribute to Paul Scholes after his former
Manchester United teammate yesterday called time on his international career.
Scholes has decided to concentrate on club football after a seven-year England
career that earned him 66 caps and saw him net 14 goals.
Beckham, now with Real Madrid, said: 'I played with Paul since I was 15 and
he's one of his country's best-ever players.
'I respect him as a person and player and wish him all the best.'
An intensely private man, devoted to his wife and young family, Scholes has
become increasingly disillusioned with life on the international scene and
wondered whether it was worth the amount of time he was spending away from
home.
He was unhappy about being away from home during the recent European
Championships and with criticism of his performances from outside the England
camp rising, the 29-year-old questioned his long-term England future.
With crucial qualifiers in Poland and Austria looming, Sven-Goran Eriksson had
hoped Scholes would change his mind.
But, even on his brief trip to the United States with his club, the flame-
haired star indicated he did not want to extend his international career.
'This is not a decision I have taken lightly,' he said. 'I have been
considering retiring from international football for a while now.
'Euro 2004 was fantastic but afterwards I felt the time was right for myself
and my family to make it my last England appearance.'
Though Scholes has not hit top form in an England shirt over the past year and
went almost three years without an international goal until he put his country
in front in their group clash with Croatia in Lisbon, the Oldham-born player
was still seen by Eriksson as a major influence on his side.
Answering criticism of Scholes' pre-tournament form, the Swede claimed the
player was virtually undroppable, naming him as one of the true world-class
talents at England's disposal.
So, it was with considerable sadness that Eriksson accepted Scholes' shock deci
sion.
'I am very sorry that Paul has decided to retire from international football,'
Eriksson said.
'Paul and I have been speaking about this since Euro 2004 and, while he
remained a key part of my plans for the England team, I fully respect his
decision.
'Paul is a great player who has given so much to England over the past seven
years. He has a very special talent and it has been a privilege working so
closely with him.
'I would like to wish Paul every success in the future with Manchester United.
He deserves it.''
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