KEY POINTS:
England soccer manager Steve McClaren says he will "stand or fall" by his bold choice to recall former captain David Beckham to the squad.
McClaren's u-turn on the Real Madrid midfielder was his biggest decision since taking over from Sven Goran-Eriksson since dropping Beckham after last year's World Cup.
"I have looked at David since the New Year and watched him very closely," McClaren said. "He looks very fit, the fittest I have seen him for a long, long time.
"It's my decision and I stand or fall by that. I listen to the advice," he added ahead of Saturday's friendly against Brazil and the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia next Thursday.
"The only thing that will help me to get the support of the fans is to win football matches," said McClaren. "That's why I brought David Beckham back.
"Not for the fans, not for the media, not for anybody, but the squad, the team, England, to get us winning football matches. That's all it is. It's all about on the pitch. That's my job."
Beckham has earned rave reviews over the last few months and has helped give Real a chance of winning the La Liga title. England need a lift following poor displays against Israel and Andorra in their last two qualifiers and they are now fighting to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
- REUTERS
