Other than high-fiving on the bench, David Beckham’s role at this World Cup has been shrouded in mystery, but his contribution was seen in England’s goal against Slovenia. Not since the former captain have England possessed a player capable of whipping the ball in from the right with the accuracy of James Milner.
The 24-year-old, whose England debut came on the left and who spent most of last season in central midfield, has a chance to establish himself as Beckham’s permanent successor, after a host of seemingly more suitable candidates have been tried and found wanting.
David Bentley, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott were all given extended responsibilities that they were unable to grasp, most commonly as a result of weaknesses in their character.
Milner’s attitude and application are among his strengths, however, and even in the immediate aftermath of his greatest triumph — after his cross was converted by Jermain Defoe to ensure England’s faltering progress — he had the presence of mind to pay tribute to Beckham.
“Since I’ve been in the squad I’ve made a point of watching David in training,” Milner said. “Before a game he’ll come and have a chat, say what he thinks about the game and give you the odd word of advice. It’s fantastic to have a player of his quality and experience about the place.”
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Milner’s work ethic extends to his lifestyle. He is teetotal so did not accept Fabio Capello’s offer of a drink the night before Wednesday’s match, although he did allude to a more laid-back atmosphere before the meeting with Slovenia.
“The last few days has brought us closer together,” Milner said. “We had a quiz the other night, which everyone was involved in. We had a good laugh. We were in teams and Liverpool won — Jamie Carragher’s knowledge of footy did it for them.”
Milner’s World Cup has undergone an even more dramatic transformation than England’s after he was substituted 30 minutes into the opening match against the United States on his return after a virus. The Aston Villa midfield player has since done enough to keep his place against Germany on Sunday, but he is not taking selection for granted.
“I would have been pretty devastated if that had been my last contribution to this World Cup,” he said. “I wasn’t 100 per cent. But it was obviously disappointing.”