Beckham looking for Croatia revenge

Croatia became the only side to beat England home and away in the same qualifying series with their 3-2 win at Wembley last week, a result that eliminated England from Euro 2008.

 Responding to Sunday's World Cup draw, which saw England grouped with Croatia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra, Beckham said, "It's a group that there's still some very tough teams in there and obviously Croatia's in there again and we have to try to get our own back on them.

 "But it's important that we go into the qualifiers now with a positive frame of mind. There's going to be obviously a new manager in place by then I'm sure so we'll have to wait and see."

   Steve McClaren was sacked as national manager on Thursday, and there has been little clear indication who will replace him or even when the appointment process will begin.

 Beckham has won 99 caps for England, and hopes whoever the new boss is will give him the chance to reach his century.

 "I know how things can change so quickly in the national team - eight months ago if someone would have said to me that I'd be getting another cap and playing for England I probably wouldn't have believed them," he said.

 "But I was brought back in and I got up to 99 caps and I want to go on from there.

 "I believe that I can, I'm 32 years old, but I believe that I've got the experience and the passion still to play for my country.

 "And I hope that when the next manager comes in that he gives me that chance but we'll have to wait and see."

DPA