What they are saying after David Beckham’s injury

The news that David Beckham is out of the World Cup and in all probablility will never play for England again has been greeted with varying degrees of sadness in the British media.

Players, managers, pundits and commentators all have sympathy for the man, but opinion is divided on whether the England football team's chances in South Africa have been damaged.

Although he would only have been a bit-part player had he been fit, some believe his experience off the field and his ability to unify the fickle England fans behind the team will be sorely missed. Others think that he is a fading force and his absence will give other members of the squad to step into the limelight.

Beckham himself posted a short message on his website to thank wellwishers today. It did not mention the World Cup but did state that he was hoping to make a "swift" comeback.

"I am on my way to Finland to see a specialist and have a scan on the injury," he said. "I am upset, but want to thank everyone for their messages of support. I hope to make a swift and full recovery."

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:Fabio Capello, England manager: "I am very sad for David that he has suffered this injury. We have to wait for the results of the scan, but it looks like he is out of the World Cup. David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow."

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport website: "When understandable sentiment and sympathy is set on on one side, what are we left with in the footballing context? We are actually left with the brutal reality that England have actually lost a fringe squad player, someone who - barring exceptional circumstances - would not have started any game at the World Cup."

Peter Taylor, former England manager: "It's experienced squads that go and win things, so that's where I think we'll miss David on and off the field. People really respect him in that squad. He'll have been watching James Milner, Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon, and I think David will pull them to one side and help in certain areas."

Rob Smyth, the Guardian: "In pure football terms, we should not be holding the back page, never mind the front. Yet no other player would have received the same depth of coverage and type of sympathy in such circumstances. This is Beckham, a national institution, and inevitably he is splashed all over today's papers."

Henry Winter, the Telegraph: "Even for those who felt his usefulness to the England national team had long gone, this is a desperately sad development."

Sam Wallace, the Independent: "It will be a devastating blow for Beckham that he is not given the chance of a fourth crack at the World Cup. But in international football, things change very quickly and the door is open for someone to prove that finally, this England team can flourish without its most famous name."

Alexi Lalas, former manager of LA Galaxy: "You never want to write off David Beckham - if there's one thing he's taught us it's his ability to bounce back." ·