David Beckham has hit back at Terry Butcher's claims that his last good performance for his country was almost three years ago. In a column for the BBC Sport website, Butcher said Beckham no longer merited his place in the side.
But Beckham said: "Sometimes I don't have good games - apparently I haven't had one for three years.
"I played really well against Ukraine and two weeks later I'm a has-been but that's the way it is - fair or not."
Butcher also claimed Beckham was only in the team because of his reputation, but the England captain insisted manager Sven-Goran Eriksson would not be frightened to drop him.
"I don't feel untouchable in Sven's plans," he added in the News of the World. "He's the manager and if he thinks I'm not playing great football he's not going to listen to anyone else.
"If I'm taken out of the team I'll fight back because that's the type of person I am.
"I don't think I warrant being out of the team yet but we'll see."
The England squad were so incensed by their treatment after the draw with Austria that they elected to boycott the media after beating Poland. But their actions met with condemnation from Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
"Football should always take every opportunity to speak and communicate for the good of the game," he said.
"Sometimes you will be honoured and other times criticised. Personalities of public life have to accept that."
However Blatter ruled out introducing new regulations forcing players to speak to the media.
Beckham was reportedly involved in a row with Football Association vice-chairman David Dein over the players' decision.
Dein apparently tried to persuade Beckham to explain the players' actions to the media, but the England captain refused.
MMIX
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Sometimes you will be criticised - personalities of public life have to accept that 