SAITAMA, Japan, May 28 (UPI) -- David Beckham, the England captain and 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year finalist, looks set to start for his country against Sweden on June 2 in its opening match of the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, said Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson on Tuesday.
Eriksson, a Swede, expressed confidence after consulting with England's medical staff. He seemed doubtful for the Group F clash after breaking a bone in his left foot on April 10 in Manchester United's quarterfinal second-leg match against Deportivo Coruna in the Champions League.
That began a flood of English injuries, which sidelined midfielders Steven Gerrard and Danny Murphy, and defender Gary Neville for the duration of the world's biggest single-sport
event. Eriksson also has been forced to contend with injuries to goalkeeper David Seaman and midfielders Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer.
Considered by many the finest free-kick specialist in the world, Beckham propelled the 1966 World Cup winners into the 2002 competition, which begins Friday. On Oct. 6, Beckham curled home an injury-time free kick to lift England into a 2-2 home draw with Greece and into the World Cup.
