England's snub 'shocks' Beckham

LONDON: Former England captain David Beckham has revealed the full extent of his "shock" at being axed by new coach Steve McLaren following the World Cup flop.

The Real Madrid midfielder paid the price of England's lacklustre performances in Germany where they went out in the quarter-finals on penalties to Portugal.

He told the Daily Mirror that once McLaren had replaced Sven Goran Eriksson the former Middlesbrough coach told him bluntly "you are one of the casualties."

But the 31-year-old Beckham says he is determined to force his way back into the squad, even if he doubts McClaren's public declaration that "the door is still open."

"I know people said I should have seen it coming," said Beckham. "But I never saw it coming. It was a total shock. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.

"It's a terrible feeling not playing for England after 10 years of being involved.

"He has made a decision. But it's not bitterness that I feel. It's more disappointment and hurt.

"It's hard to take when the reasoning behind it was to move on but I still believe I have got two or three more good years left in me.

"I thought I could move on with the team and not get left behind but now I have got a burning desire to prove him wrong."