Saturday's photos of the day

The question of Beckham's fitness, and revelations from his forthcoming biography, have kept the tabloids happy all week.

And it seems that, on the question of whether or not he will play on Saturday, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is in no doubt.

It is "the big gamble" according to the Daily Star, while the Mirror pictures Becks apparently saying "I'll risk it".

THE HEADLINES Daily Telegraph: Thorpe gives England nudge The Times: Rise of the Roman empire The Sun: Beckham has got the balls Daily Express: On the brink - England prepare for worst Daily Mirror: Becks: I'll risk it Daily Mail: Becks gamble Daily Star: The big gamble The Guardian: The importance of being Sol Campbell The Independent: Bates set to play key role in fraud trial of former Chelsea associate

And the cheeky Sun has the great man looking down his shorts alongside the headline "relax... they're still solid gold".

The Daily Express has the national team "on the brink" as 2,000 fans are expected in Skopje without tickets.

The paper says "England's possible expulsion from Euro 2004 grew more likely last night" as the Football Association admitted its plan to avoid crowd trouble had faltered.

Strong words continue to pour out of the Wales camp, with boss Mark Hughes urging his side to put Italy "on their backsides" in Milan, according to the Daily Mail.

In broadsheet world, Chelsea get plenty of coverage, good and bad.

Manager Claudio Ranieri writes his first column in The Times, saying "if a genie had come out of a bottle and told me what would happen at Chelsea, I would not have believed him".

Meanwhile, chairman Ken Bates is heading to the United States to give evidence in a fraud trial, says The Independent.

Away from football, the dying days of summer are traditionally accompanied by English misery on the cricket field - and this year looks no different.

But the Daily Telegraph finds some hope in the return of Graham Thorpe, "unhurried and largely untroubled" on his way to 28 not out on Friday.

And The Guardian sees Iain Balshaw ready to have one last go at getting in England's squad for the Rugby World Cup by impressing against France at Twickenham on Saturday.