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"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham has insisted playing in the United States will help his England career, rather than hinder it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Most observers believed Beckham's mega-money move to Major League Soccer signaled the beginning of the end where his international career was concerned.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Indeed, the former Real Madrid Gal&amp;aacute;ctico was initially ignored following the 2006 World Cup, until then-manager Steve McClaren recalled him in a desperate -- and ultimately unsuccessful -- attempt to save England's Euro 2008 campaign.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But the 33-year-old is adamant that playing in an unfashionable league should not affect his England career, insisting the quality of play across the pond is vastly underestimated.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"The standard in the USA is higher than anyone thinks and expects,\" he said. \"America is a great place to play and the standard is improving all the time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"People say, 'Can you play at this level or that level,' but it doesn't change me as a player. I'm always going to be the same player -- whether I'm playing in Spain, England or the USA. That won't affect my game.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"I can switch from playing in the USA at the weekend to then playing on a Wednesday against one of the best teams in the world and the best players in the world.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"I'll always be the same player that, if given two or three yards, I can cross a ball into the danger area. People have said I've lost my pace but I've never had a major amount of pace anyway. I have never really been someone who has gone past players.\"&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The major concern for many is whether Beckham can maintain his fitness levels during the MLS offseason, which coincides with the middle of the European season.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But the former Manchester United believes his physical shape is not an issue, and hopes to be a major part of England's 2010 World Cup campaign.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"Fitness-wise, I feel I can carry on for a few years,\" he said. \"If I felt I couldn't carry on, maybe I'd turn around and retire from international football but that is not the case.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"Of course, things can change. At the moment I am taking each game as it comes. Who knows what is around the corner? You can have extreme highs and lows.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"I've had those in the last couple of years but I wouldn't be putting myself forward if I couldn't physically do it still. I still feel I can perform at the highest level and it is exciting to play again under Fabio Capello, who is a great manager.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\"I want to be part of the squad for the 2010 World Cup if at all possible. The manager has already said if I stay fit and I am performing, then I've got a chance to be in the squad.\"&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/soccer/2008/06/03/england-beckham>