By Phil McNulty BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

ENGLAND v URUGUAY Date: 1 March 2006 Kick-off: 2005 GMT Venue: Anfield, Liverpool Live on Match of the Day, Radio Five Live and this website

The Real Madrid star has forged a close relationship with the Swede, who steps down as coach after the World Cup.

And Beckham said ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Uruguay: "Peter Taylor made me captain and Sven kept me on.

"Hopefully the next manager will also keep me as captain, but I have already said I want to carry on playing for England whether I am captain or not."

Beckham insisted England's World Cup campaign will not have any added impetus because it is the Swede's farewell - and that the players would have their sights on glory whoever was in charge.

Bent poised to stay at Anfield

But he added that the squad were fiercely supportive of the Swede, who has been the subject of heavy criticism in recent times.

He said: "We will support the manager right up until he leaves. He's got our support and he always supports every one of the players.

"What has happened with the manager was a difficult situation, whether you agree with it or not, but it's happened and you have to move on."

I don't think the relationship between manager and players has been affected by what's happened Steven Gerrard on Eriksson

Beckham also said England's players hold no grudges against Eriksson for his revelations to the so-called "Fake Sheikh" in the tabloid sting that was the catalyst for his departure.

He said: "The players don't hold anything against him. The players are fully supportive of him, both as a manager and a person."

Beckham's England colleague Steven Gerrard also backed Eriksson, saying: "He is just as hungry as he was before he knew he was going.

"He is desperate for England to do well and will be doing everything he can to achieve that.

"We know the manager fairly well. We know he's desperate to win the World Cup and I don't think the relationship between manager and players has been affected by what's happened."

Eriksson senses players' urgency

Gerrard is also desperate to figure in this summer's World Cup, having been ruled out of the 2002 tournament in Japan by injury.

He said: "To sit at home for five or six weeks and watch the games, bandaged up after groin surgery, was probably one of the lowest points of my career.

"I have got a great chance to put that behind me now. There won't be a better stage to show what I can do.