इंगलैंड की राष्ट्रीय टीम के जर्मनी के वर्ल्ड कप सेमीफ़ाइनल में पहुँचने में विफल रहने के बाद डेविड बेकम ने कप्तान के पद से इस्तीफ़ा दे दिया है. वह छह साल तक टीम के कप्तान रहे हैं और एक बयान में उन्होंने कहा कि अब समय है कि कोई और टीम का नेतृत्व संभाले हालाँकि वह इंगलैंड के लिए खेलना जारी रखना चाहते हैं. हैरी पर्ट की रिपोर्ट...

रिपोर्ट सुनिए

David Beckham said it had been an honour and a priviledge to have captained England. Of his 95 international appearances 58 have been wearing the captain's armband. In an emotional news conference he said he felt the time was right to step down after discussing it with his family. He said it was the most difficult decision of his career.

By his own standards he's had a poor World Cup and even his trademark free kicks and corner kicks have been wayward. Pressure has been mounting for him to step aside and his retention as captain has been linked to his close ties with the coach, Sven Goran Eriksson.

But with the Swede now stepping down, Beckham has felt it time to resign his captaincy but he stressed that he wanted to continue to play for the team and help the new manager Steve McClaren and the new captain. Steve Gerrard and John Terry are favourites to take over the role.

Harry Peart, BBC, Berlin

आवाज़ सुनिए

a priviledge
सम्मान

appearances
यहाँ मतलब, मैच में हिस्सा लेते रहना

to step down
इस्तीफ़ा देना, पद छोड़ देना

By his own standards
अपने प्रदर्शन की क्षमता के मुताबिक

trademark
विशेष गुण

wayward
लापरवाह

mounting
बढ़ता हुआ

to step aside
इस्तीफ़ा देना, हट जाना

retention
जारी रहना

ties
संबंध, संपर्क