Cry Becks

Chief Sports Writer Oliver Holt talks to David Beckham about the joys of being a father figure.. to both his children AND his England team-mates
Oliver Holt
DAVID BECKHAM is sur rounded by bright young kids wherever he looks in the England squad now that the World Cup is nearly here.

Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing are leading the charge of the next generation as Sven Goran Eriksson and his party prepare to launch their bid to win the greatest prize in sport.

But as the England skipper embraces the role of elder statesman in the squad, it is his father's pride in sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz that is driving his dreams of glory in Germany.

In a remarkable interview for Mirror Sport, Beckham revealed he is so proud of his boys' football feats that watching them play has moved him to tears.

And he admitted that knowing Brooklyn, 7, and Romeo, 4, will be glued to the football this summer has given him an extra reason to win the World Cup for England.

"I love having my sons watching the games so that will be an extra incentive," Beckham said. "It's great having them there. It makes me feel good.

"They are mad about their football. From the moment they get up in the morning until the moment they go to bed at night they either talk about football or play football.


"They have got their own boots. In fact, before Romeo goes to bed at night, he will line his boots up at the end of his bed and then he'll go to sleep in his boots or his football kit.


"I don't think he can work out what he wants to be yet. He has got all my shirts but he's got the kit of Iker Casillas, the Real Madrid goalie, too.


"He's got goalie's gloves and he's got a whistle. I don't know whether he wants to be a goalkeeper, a referee or a footballer."


Even in the football-crazy Beckham household, 15-month-old Cruz may still be a little young to catch World Cup fever next month.


But the England captain's two older sons are devoted to watching and playing the game, something that makes Beckham intensely proud.


"I'm an emotional person," Beckham said. "I cry all the time.


"Watching films, listening to a particularly emotional song, that kind of thing sets me off. I think the last time I cried was about three weeks ago when I watched Brooklyn play football. He goes training every Wednesday and Friday for a soccer school that is run by ex-Real Madrid players and he scored three goals that day. I cried because I was so proud."


Beckham has never been afraid of showing his emotions, putting his family first and experimenting with his appearance.


But if he is a new man away from the football pitch, he is getting used to being an old man when he joins up with the increasingly youthful England squad.


"It makes me feel old every time I join up with the squad now," said Beckham.


"We do these exercises called boxes where two players go in the middle and you have to keep the ball off them. I used to be in the young group and now I'm in the old group.


"Sometimes, Steve McClaren asks the two oldest or two youngest to go in the middle. When it's the two oldest, it's always me and Gary Neville.


"So it's turned round completely. I'm not too old yet, though. When we play young v old, the young lads are always flying all over the place but sometimes the experience of the older lads shows through.


"I felt excited by the names in the squad when the manager announced it. Seeing young players come in is great. I have only seen Aaron Lennon play four or five times but he is an exciting player and a young talent.


"People have talked about him being competition for me and he will be. That's always going to happen. You always want competition. You always want to be pushed.


"I have had that at United and with England. If you're at a big club or playing for your country, there are bound to be people challenging you.


"It's not long ago that plenty of people were saying that other players should be in the England side ahead of me.


"Well, I have been at a high level for a long time and that's part of being in that position. Aaron has done well for Tottenham and it's part of the England situation that he will push me.


"Theo is such a young lad, he's a kid. From the moment Arsenal bought him, his life and his world has been turned around completely.


"He could not be at a better club with a better manager. There was an excitement about the squad even though there were a few gasps and question marks.


"Like any young player, if Theo does need to ask me anything, he will know straight away that he can. I have been through all that and come out the other side so I know what he's going through and some of the emotions he's feeling."


Walcott was nine when Beckham played in the 1998 World Cup in France. Not much older than young Brooklyn Beckham is now.


The England captain thinks about that and smiles.