Bend It Like Beckham

England has secured a spot in the quarterfinals on July 1st, 2006. But up to this point, the entire English squad has been stumbling on the pitch playing with little to no imagination, and if it was not for the brilliance of one man, it would be the South American team known as Ecuador that would have the date with Portugal in the match next weekend.

It was David Beckham who rescued England, and is now the only Englishman to have scored in three World Cup finals. Beckham's first goal for his country came at France 1998 where a curving set-piece put the ball out of the reach of Colombia's goalkeeper. At Korea/Japan 2002 it was his penalty that brought England sweet revenge over Argentina and enabled them to advance to the quarter-final stage.

Up to this point in the tournament, England's rock-star captain has been jeered and harshly criticized. His wife, Posh, and family have been mocked and insulted, and at times on the field, the best known athelete in the World has disappeared. Even the commentators have been poking fun at David during the games, exchanging thoughts on how Beckham is overrated and shouldn't even be on the field, let alone captain of the English team.

But on a sweltering Sunday afternoon, Beckham shut up his critics by landing the punch for his team. His stunning free kick in the 60th minute, bending over the wall of players and into the corner of the goal and past Ecuador's diving keeper, was the only goal in the game, and I have to admit that I have never seen anything so beautiful.

It is amazing to me how Beckham can consistently deliver the ball into the back of the net from 30 yards out with 11 people in front of him. No one else is the World can put as much power and spin onto the ball that is kicked perfectly over the defending wall, and then is dropped with incredible pace away from the keeper into the goal. His free kick prowess is truly a weapon of distress for any opponent, and even though the game is played over 90 minutes, all will be watching the miracle free kick as Beckham bends England's destiny in this World Cup.