BECKHAM shows some leg

David Beckham made a spectacular return to England’s national team Friday night, creating a goal with one of his trademark free kicks, and immediately sparking speculation in Europe that his summer move to Major League Soccer could be in doubt.

Beckham’s performance in a 1-1 tie against five-time world champion Brazil in front of a near-sellout crowd of 88,745 at the new Wembley Stadium in London was good enough to have one English television commentator remark that it “may put his move to the L.A. Galaxy on hold.”

Not a chance, according to Alexi Lalas, the Galaxy’s president and general manager.

Interviewed in midweek, Lalas was emphatic that Beckham and his handlers had not asked to cancel his contract, renegotiate, delay his mid-July arrival or have him lent to another club in order to keep playing in Europe for another year.

“It’s never been brought up by either side. It’s never been an option,” Lalas said.

The chance that Beckham could do an about-face after signing a contract with MLS and the Galaxy in January that will earn him a minimum of $6.5 million a year was pounced upon by English newspapers after Beckham was named to England’s team for Friday’s match and for Wednesday’s European Championship qualifying game against Estonia.

“Becks’ L.A. Move in Jeopardy” screamed the headline in one English tabloid.

Lalas laughed at that notion and said Beckham would join the Galaxy in July as planned. All the same, the fact that Beckham has clawed his way back into the England team picture could present the Galaxy and MLS with problems.

Assuming Beckham does as well against Estonia as he did Friday night, he probably will be called upon to play in England’s prestige friendly against Germany at Wembley on Aug. 22, as well as in England’s final five qualifying games for Euro 2008.

Those five matches -- in September, October and November -- all come in the midst of the MLS regular season and playoffs and could cause Beckham to miss at least three Galaxy games and possibly more -- games to which fans are buying tickets in expectation of seeing Beckham.

The England games are all on FIFA-designated playing dates, meaning that the Galaxy has no choice but to release Beckham.

“Any kind of competitive or business challenges that England call-ups in the middle of our season would pose, is stuff that we’ll deal with,” Lalas said. “This is the game we play. It’s an international game....

“I believe it’s an incredible positive for him, but I also think it’s a positive for us. Yes, there are some challenges here and there, but for us to be able to say that one of our players has been called up to the English national team, that’s not bad.”

On Friday, Beckham was immediately at ease back in his old No. 7 England jersey and seldom put a foot wrong. One of his free kicks flashed narrowly wide of the left post. Another was headed just over the crossbar by Michael Owen.

Finally, in the 68th minute, Beckham sent a deep free kick to the far post, where John Terry, who replaced him as England’s captain, leaped to head the ball into Brazil’s net.

Beckham’s celebration mirrored that of Terry, who will be playing for Chelsea against the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on July 21 in a match that, as things stand, is expected to mark Beckham’s American debut.

With his wife and sons watching from the stands, Beckham left the Wembley field in the 77th minute, getting a standing ovation from the fans, many of whom had questioned the wisdom of dropping him from England’s team after Germany ’06.

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Jones reported from Los Angeles.