David Beckham had furious half-time message for England manager during shock loss to Australia
Graham Arnold has recalled the time he overheard David Beckham fuming at Sven-Goran Eriksson during an England defeat to Australia.
Arnold was assistant for the Socceroos when they shocked the Three Lions at Upton Park in 2003, beating them 3-1.
The Aussies were 2-0 up by half-time, with then-Leeds star Harry Kewell on the score sheet for the visitors alongside Tony Popovic.
Now, in an interview for The Times, Arnold has revealed his side were riled up before they even stepped out onto the pitch in east London after hearing then-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson's game plan.
«I remember reading the newspaper the day before, where Sven came out and said 'I'm going to change the whole team at half-time',' Arnold told The Times.
»That p***ed our players off. 'Who the hell does he think he is? Does he think we're s***?' We grew the narrative as coaches, 'look, they have no respect for us'. The Aussie mentality kicked in."
But Arnold also then revealed one of England's stars wasn't best pleased with Eriksson's tactic, either — Three Lions captain, Beckham.
Recalling going in at half time, Arnold continued: «We walked up the tunnel and all you could hear was [Beckham] going to Sven, 'we're not f***ing coming off'.
»'We can't be down to 2-0 at half-time and come off'. Sven still changed the whole team."
England did half the deficit after the break. Debutant Wayne Rooney, who became England's youngest international at 17 years and 111 days, combined with fellow new boys Jermaine Jenas and Francis Jeffers, with the latter finding the net with 20 minutes to go.
But the Socceroos got their deserved win, with Brett Emerton making it 3-1 with five minutes remaining.
England face Australia again this Friday in a friendly at Wembley Stadium,
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