London:
Revenge isn't driving David Beckham going into Wednesday's match against Croatia _ just ensuring that England qualifies for the World Cup.
That is despite the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder experiencing one of his darkest football moments almost two years ago at Wembley as a halftime substitute when Croatia's victory denied England a place at the 2008 European Championship.
"This game is not about revenge, it is not about putting to rest what happened last time we played Croatia (at Wembley)," Beckham said on Monday. "It was a very tough time for the players and everyone involved in the England team. It was tough for the fans too.
"I'm sure the fans will be wanting us to beat them on the revenge side, but the most important thing for us is knowing if we win it we know we are in the World Cup finals."
Having picked up after Steve McClaren's short and unsuccessful tenure as England coach, Fabio Capello has presided over seven straight wins in Group 6. One more on Wednesday would guarantee his side a slot at next year's finals in South Africa.
"What Fabio Capello has brought into squad and the nation is belief," Beckham said. "After the last qualification campaign, when we didn't qualify, that belief and trust was lost from the fans and that hurts players.
"We needed to get back to playing the football we knew we could play but we also needed the belief of the fans."
Beckham's best hope of appearing on Wednesday is as a substitute with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon vying for the right-sided midfield berth in Theo Walcott's absence.
The 34-year-old Beckham didn't feature in Saturday's friendly against Slovenia, leaving him on 113 international appearances, 12 shy of goalkeeper Peter Shilton's England record.
Despite England's impressive qualification record under Capello, concerns persist about a side that has kept a clean sheet in just seven of the Italian's 17 matches in charge.
A lapse in concentration on Saturday allowed Slovenia to score a late goal in Saturday's friendly at Wembley which England won 2-1.
England midfielder Frank Lampard said: "Maybe in a couple of the friendlies there have been a couple of things we would not have wanted to happen which were individual errors but we take that on the chin as a group. We are not the finished article whether it is defensively or attack wise but hopefully we will get it right for when it really matters."
Just like England did last September when Croatia was routed 4-1 in Zagreb.
However, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic claims he has identified a weakness in England which he intends to exploit when the teams meet on Wednesday.
"They are missing some Englishness, some of the things that have always made England teams difficult to defend against and play against," Bilic said. "All I will say is that they are definitely missing something and we know what it is. But of course I am not going to tell you now what it is. It is our secret."
Croatia will be without injured midfielder Luka Modric and Tottenham teammate Vedran Corluka, who was sent off in Saturday's 1-0 win over Belarus.
That is despite the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder experiencing one of his darkest football moments almost two years ago at Wembley as a halftime substitute when Croatia's victory denied England a place at the 2008 European Championship.
"This game is not about revenge, it is not about putting to rest what happened last time we played Croatia (at Wembley)," Beckham said on Monday. "It was a very tough time for the players and everyone involved in the England team. It was tough for the fans too.
"I'm sure the fans will be wanting us to beat them on the revenge side, but the most important thing for us is knowing if we win it we know we are in the World Cup finals."
Having picked up after Steve McClaren's short and unsuccessful tenure as England coach, Fabio Capello has presided over seven straight wins in Group 6. One more on Wednesday would guarantee his side a slot at next year's finals in South Africa.
"What Fabio Capello has brought into squad and the nation is belief," Beckham said. "After the last qualification campaign, when we didn't qualify, that belief and trust was lost from the fans and that hurts players.
"We needed to get back to playing the football we knew we could play but we also needed the belief of the fans."
Beckham's best hope of appearing on Wednesday is as a substitute with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon vying for the right-sided midfield berth in Theo Walcott's absence.
The 34-year-old Beckham didn't feature in Saturday's friendly against Slovenia, leaving him on 113 international appearances, 12 shy of goalkeeper Peter Shilton's England record.
Despite England's impressive qualification record under Capello, concerns persist about a side that has kept a clean sheet in just seven of the Italian's 17 matches in charge.
A lapse in concentration on Saturday allowed Slovenia to score a late goal in Saturday's friendly at Wembley which England won 2-1.
England midfielder Frank Lampard said: "Maybe in a couple of the friendlies there have been a couple of things we would not have wanted to happen which were individual errors but we take that on the chin as a group. We are not the finished article whether it is defensively or attack wise but hopefully we will get it right for when it really matters."
Just like England did last September when Croatia was routed 4-1 in Zagreb.
However, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic claims he has identified a weakness in England which he intends to exploit when the teams meet on Wednesday.
"They are missing some Englishness, some of the things that have always made England teams difficult to defend against and play against," Bilic said. "All I will say is that they are definitely missing something and we know what it is. But of course I am not going to tell you now what it is. It is our secret."
Croatia will be without injured midfielder Luka Modric and Tottenham teammate Vedran Corluka, who was sent off in Saturday's 1-0 win over Belarus.
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