England shows little angst over David Beckham’s injury
For all the clamor that surrounds David Beckham, there was little angst in England over the fact that a torn left Achilles’ tendon has knocked the Galaxy midfielder out of the World Cup.
Beckham, 34, underwent surgery in Finland on Monday evening, after which the specialist who performed the procedure, Dr. Sakari Orava, revealed that the player had “totally torn” the tendon and would be sidelined for at least six months.
“The operation lasted just under an hour,” Orava told the Associated Press. “It went very well. He will have to take it very easy during the next two to three weeks or a month, and then he will continue with a recuperation program slowly. The foot won’t take much strain for two to three months.”
The World Cup begins on June 11 in South Africa.
Orava said it would be four months before Beckham could even try to run and six months before he could play again — in other words, mid-September, when the Galaxy will have only a half-dozen games remaining in what would be Beckham’s fourth season in Major League Soccer.
The injury occurred on Sunday when Beckham was playing on loan for AC Milan against Chievo in Italy’s Serie A. The player flew to Finland by private jet on Monday for the surgery and Beckham was met by hundreds of fans outside the clinic.
Grim-faced, silent and on crutches, Beckham said nothing. His only statement since suffering the injury was posted on his website: “I hope to make a swift and full recovery.”
Meanwhile, Fabio Capello, England’s coach, told reporters that the injury was “a big blow” for Beckham, significantly not stating that it was a big blow for England, considered one of the World Cup favorites.
Reaction in the English media to Beckham’s absence from the World Cup was consistent. Most outlets expressed sympathy for him, but most also agreed with the BBC that Beckham would have been little more than “a fringe player” in South Africa, “someone who — barring exceptional circumstances — would not have started any game at the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Bruce Arena, the Galaxy’s coach and general manager, said in a statement, “David remains an important player for the Galaxy and we look forward to welcoming him back and assisting in his recovery.”
