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AC Milan's David Beckham leaves the pitch after being injured against Chievo - Source: Reuters
David Beckham's World Cup hopes hang in the balance after the
England midfielder went off with a suspected ruptured Achilles
tendon late in AC Milan's 1-0 Serie A win over Chievo on
Monday.
Beckham was getting ready to kick a ball unchallenged when he
suddenly pulled up and signalled to the bench despite second-placed
Milan having used all their substitutes.
Beckham told the San Siro bench "It's broken, it's broken" as he
came off. Team mates said he was in tears in the dressing
room.
"When the Achilles tendon goes you feel it straight away," Milan
coach Leonardo told reporters after his side moved one point behind
leaders Inter Milan with 10 games left.
"The injury to David is upsetting. This injury lets me enjoy the
win less."
The 34-year-old Beckham, on loan at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy
chiefly to try to safeguard his England squad place for the World
Cup in June, now faces a race to be fit for the tournament in South
Africa.
Television analysts said Achilles injuries can take up to three
months to heal, sometimes more.
England are well-covered on the right wing with Theo Walcott, Shaun
Wright-Phillips and James Milner among the players able to play
there. Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon is currently injured.
Beckham, a former captain who played at the 1998, 2002 and 2006
World Cups, is England's most capped outfield player with 115
appearances.
