David Beckham's X-rated blast revealed ahead of England clash with Australia
David Beckham's X-rated blast has been remembered ahead of England and Australia clash
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David Beckham swore at Sven Goran-Eriksson when England lost to Australia back in 2003, it has been claimed.
The Three Lions were rocked by a 3-1 defeat two decades ago, in a result few saw coming.
Tony Popovic and Harry Kewell struck to fire the Aussie into a 2-0 lead before Francis Jeffers found the net.
But Australia made the result safe late on with Brett Emerton giving them a memorable win.
David Beckham was part of the England side that lost to Australia all the way back in 2003
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Now, 20 years on, Australia boss Graham Arnold revealed Beckham was furious at half time of the match.
Prior to kick off, Eriksson had revealed he would field two different sides in each half.
And Arnold heard Beckham swearing and refusing to come off, though the former England skipper later U-turned and accepted he would be withdrawn.
"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'" he told The Times.
"That p****d our players off.
"Who the hell does he think he is? Does he think we're s**t?
"We grew the narrative as coaches, 'look, they have no respect for us.' The Aussie mentality kicked in.
"We had some top players. Our Golden Generation.
"You look back at that generation, you didn't have to motivate them too much.
"Harry [Kewell] was quiet but he had this incredibly strong mentality.
"There was no way we were going to lose that game, especially the mentality of [Mark] Viduka and these guys."
On Beckham, he then added: "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."
Arnold is currently in his second stint as Australia manager, having agreed to return to the role five years ago.
He was widely hailed last winer as his side reached the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
And Arnold is proud of everything he's achieved during his time as their manager.
"I'm always looking at the stars in the National Anthem because my mum [Faye] and dad [Barry] died when I was young," he touchingly said.
"I know they're up there watching and helping me. I know they're still proud of me.
"My mum died when I was 20. Breast cancer. She was ill from when I was 16, and I went off the rails, I just partied, alcohol, gave up playing football for a year.
"She fought cancer in Calvary [health care centre] for a year.
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Australia boss Graham Arnold has opened up ahead of his side's friendly showdown with England
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"After being unconscious for a month, two days before she died she opened her eyes, grabbed my hand and went 'Graham, you have a talent in life, you have something special, don't waste it with your party mates. Don't be a bum like them.'
"I'll never forget. She was 'preserving' all her energy to say that to me. It still inspires me today.
"I walked out of that hospital, pretty much gave up working as a builder, and went professional.
"A year-and-a-half later I played for Australia."
England last met Australia in a football match all the way back in 2016. Goals from Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney were enough to give the Three Lions victory.
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