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Journalism of Courage
Michael Owen was given his first real taste of Real Madrid’s ‘galactico’ culture Sunday night when dropped to make way for David Beckham, but he came on as a substitute to score his sixth goal in eight games and overshadow the England captain.
Beckham’s first appearance in 36 days was confirmation that he had won his battle to play against Spain on Wednesday although it was not a memorable display from him in the 6-1 rout of Albacete.
With one minute left, Owen ran on to a pass from Ronaldo and slipped a perfect shot under the goalkeeper Ronnie Gaspercic. Owen might have thought that his run of five goals in seven matches would have been enough to keep his place, but the club’s policy of always playing their biggest names meant otherwise.
Beckham’s appearance ended a week of speculation over whether his cracked ribs would heal in time for him to play for England in the friendly at Real’s Bernabeu stadium, and it also emphasised the gulf in status between the two players. While Owen was introduced as a substitute after 58 minutes, it was evident that Beckham now shares the same profile as the other superstars in the side who play regardless of form or results.
Nevertheless, it was not a particularly auspicious start for Beckham, who struggled to impose himself over the 90 minutes in his first match since his injury on October 9.
Real had been unbeaten in the eight matches since Beckham injured himself but his determination to captain his country in his home stadium proved impossible for coach Mariano Garcia Remon to resist. Beckham failed to fully live up to his reputation for aggressive tackling but appeared to come through the match without aggravating the injury.
Beckham’s best moment came after 48 minutes when he delivered an exquisite free-kick from the right that Argentine defender Walter Samuel headed home for his side’s fourth goal against an Albacete team who looked overawed. The England captain had been booked moments earlier for taking a free-kick before the referee had signalled to resume play.
Owen came on for Luis Figo and partnered Ronaldo in attack, only the fifth occasion that he and Beckham had played together for Real. He was unlucky not to score with five minutes left when Santiago Solari cut back a cross from the left but made no mistake when Ronaldo sent him through.
Beckham reportedly said at the weekend that he would retire from international football at the end of the 2006 World Cup. His determination to play for England at every possible opportunity, in spite of his recent injury, would suggest that he will actually keep playing for as long as his country requires him.
(The Daily Telegraph)
