Mess it like Beckham

Beck... Ahem!!

11th October 2003: England v/s Turkey @ Istanbul, Turkey: Late in the first half, one Mr David Beckham, renowned spot kick specialist from anywhere on the ground, decided to take a spot-kick from 15 yards. Rustu Recber, the Turkish goalie, perhaps knew of Beckham's reputation, and was wondering how he is gonna stop the ball slamming into the net. Beckham advances, slips, and hits the ball so wonderfully, even Tiger Woods may not have managed that with his 9-iron. The ball is stopped by a spectator 10 rows behind, and a goal averted.

13th June 2004: England v/s France @ Lisbon, Portugal: Mid-way through the second half, Beckham's former MU team-mate, Mikael Silvestre, brings down Paul Scholes in the area. Responsible captain that Beckham is, not forgetting that he is also a spot kick specialist, he decides to take the penalty. Beckham advances, shoots the ball on target, ball moves freely in the direction of the kick. But unfortunately, so does one pathetic French player wearing the number 1 T-shirt. Soon, the co-ordinates of the ball and this player coincide , and Beckham fails once again.

24th June 2004: England v/s Portugal @ Lisbon, Portugal: 120 minutes of the game over, both the teams tied at 2-2. Its all down to a series of spot kicks(lets not forget, it is Beckham's specialty). England win the toss, and they have a go first. The responsible captain, yet again, leads from the front. He advances, slips and this time matches Tiger Woods' 9-iron. The goalkeeper wouldnt have had to move a centimeter even if he were standing on top of the goal, coz it was out of his reach. Such is the expertise of our glamourous spot kick specialist.

A la Star Sports and Wimbledon, I am almost tempted to say, another Golden Moment from David Beckham.... for the opponents at least!!! :)

--Avi