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Cocky Macedonia get to Beckham
By Ken Dyer, Evening Standard, in Skopje
5 September 2003
David Beckham today hit back at gloating within the Macedonia camp that suggests they expect to beat England in tomorrow's Euro 2004 qualifier.
Beckham, who confirmed his fitness subject to a training session later today, said: "They seem confident. They've said they can win 2-1 or earn a draw at least. I'm not going to make any predictions but we're also quietly confident we can get the result we need.
"This will be one of the hardest games in the Group, very tough. We saw what they are capable of doing the last time we played them and there is no way we will be underestimating them this time."
The press conference at the Holiday Inn in the capital city Skopje degenerated into near chaos as locals attempted to gatecrash the event.
A big crowd turned up outside, the venue for today's media conference and the Football Association's security staff had to eject several people from the conference room in which Beckham was being interviewed for television. Hotel staff also got in on the act, taking photographs and helping to fill what quickly became a crowded room.
Mobile telephones continued to ring despite the FA's pleas for them to be turned off during the TV interviews but Beckham and England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson remained unruffled by all the attention they were receiving.
England captain Beckham also dismissed suggestions that there would be any problems coming face-to-face with former manager Alex Ferguson when England play Liechtenstein at Old Trafford next Wednesday.
Beckham said that he had 15 good years at Manchester United and stressed that people had focussed on the negative side of his relationship following comments in his book.
Beckham, who has said he was unhappy in his final period at Old Trafford, believes he has already become a better player by joining Real Madrid.
He said: "When I first moved there I said I wanted to become a better player and, from being in Spain and playing with these great players in a month and half, I have learned and am going to go on learning."
Asked about the possibility of playing on a bumpy pitch, the England captain said: "It's the same for both teams. Sometimes you come across pitches that are not as good as others but you still have to perform.
"This is a very tricky tie whether we have the players who usually play or not. The players coming in can do the job. We are confident.
"Everyone knows how important these next two games are for us.
"If we have to go and win in Turkey then we would be confident of doing so but we are focusing first on the match against Macedonia.
"This is a double header and people are talking to me about the game on Wednesday at Old Trafford against Liechtenstein. We aren't thinking that far ahead. It's important we don't slip up tomorrow.
"But, if in the end we have to go to Istanbul and win against Turkey to qualify, we're confident we can.
"It would be easier if they (Turkey) slip up and we win (against Macedonia and Liechtenstein). If not we'll go there and get a result."
Beckham did not believe it was a problem that England would not have mass support in the stadium tomorrow.
The FA confirmed that 27 UK nationals have so far entered the country and Beckham said: "Perhaps some of them had arranged their trips some time ago and had paid a lot of money.
"I hope that, if they are at the stadium tomorrow, they will enjoy the game and concentrate on that.
"The support we get from the fans is amazing but if there are problems it affects the players and the country."
England supporters were receiving offers of tickets throughout the city with the local population keen to make a healthy profit.
Meanwhile, vice-captain Michael Owen has appealed for fans and critics to lay off Emile Heskey.
The Liverpool striker has yet to truly establish his England credentials, unlike his team-mate Owen, and many of his performances have come in for criticism.
Although Wayne Rooney looks set to start in the Group Nine clash, Heskeyis certain to feature at some stage with Eriksson fielding a makeshift midfield due to injuries and doubts over the Everton teenager's fitness.
Owen Hargreaves is the favourite to fill the troublesome left-side position of the midfield diamond, a role that Heskey has occupied before to limited effect.
But Owen, who appealed yesterday for patience over Rooney, defended his Liverpool partner ahead of the match. Owen said: "You haven't seen Wayne's true colours yet, but no matter what people think, when Emile is on top of his game there are not many better players in the world.
"I saw him two years ago when he had a patch of 10 to 15 games for Liverpool where I thought he was unbelievable. No one could stop him.
"We have to get Emile back to that level but he needs encouragement, not people having a got at him."
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