Buehlertal, Germany – David Beckham is disappointed that an article in Germany’s top-selling newspaper mocked his wife, mother, sister and children.
“That’s one thing that is hard to accept,” the England captain said Tuesday. “I’ve come to terms with people criticizing me as a footballer, but when it comes to my family that’s one thing I will never accept.
“I actually find it sad that someone drops to that level to criticize my family. It’s just one sad person sat in a room thinking of one thing that maybe can try to put me off the next game. I’m not going to let it do that.”
In an article spread across almost the back page of Monday’s edition, the German tabloid Bild described how Beckham’s family looked while watching England’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay on Saturday.
The article said Beckham’s wife Victoria, a former singer with the Spice Girls, was a “luxury wife,” described two of three of Beckham’s sons as dwarves, and called one, Romeo, a girl. It also described Beckham’s mother as having “a farmer’s smile” and his sister Joanne as “Chubbyham.” “Oops is she plump,” the paper wrote. “Arms, breasts, bum – very British. Joanne is one of those who drinks sangrias on a Mallorca beach out of buckets. And after that the first to dance on the table – topless.”
Borgetti out with muscle tear
Mexican forward Jared Borgetti will miss one game and possibly the rest of the first round of the World Cup with a torn left thigh muscle. Borgetti, Mexico’s leading career scorer with 38 international goals, pulled up lame while going after a loose ball in the second half of a 3-1 victory over Angola on Sunday. Borgetti underwent an MRI examination that revealed a “grade one tear in the posterior muscle of his left leg,” said team doctor Jose Luis Serrano. Borgetti will be evaluated in eight days to determine if he will be able to play again in the tournament.
Footnotes
Czech Republic striker Jan Koller, who scored in the opener against the United States, is doubtful for the rest of the first round because of a thigh injury, which likely will force Koller out until the quarterfinals.
The United States’ 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic was watched by 2.14 million households, the most to see a soccer game on ESPN2. Monday’s match received a 2.4 cable rating. It was the most-watched program on the network this year.
