Wednesday's photos of the day

Wednesday's papers demonstrate why some England footballers are said to be unhappy about David Beckham's sky-high profile.

Their captain, draped in the flag of St George, features on no less than five back pages - and one front page - ahead of the Euro 2004 qualifier against Liechtenstein.

It could be said that this kind of treatment reduces his team-mates to the status of extras in 'Beckham: The Movie'.

But the England skipper represents - for the media, at least - an irresistible collision of sport and celebrity, plus the wholly acceptable face of patriotism.

Such is Beckham's status that he and not England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson decided he would play on Wednesday and risk a booking that would mean missing the trip to Turkey.

"It's a little bit if a risk, but it's my decision," he told The Times. "I want to play and the manager's happy with that."

Or, as The Sun says: "David Beckham has picked himself to be England captain tonight".

THE HEADLINES Daily Telegraph: England throw caution aside The Times: Cool Beckham insists on leading from the front The Sun: Becks rules Daily Express: The gloves are off Daily Mirror: Sack Sven Daily Mail: Chelsea chasing Souness Daily Star: Get me Becks The Guardian: Arsenal stadium plans in doubt The Independent: Beckham promises to avoid booking

Meanwhile, the tension building ahead of the crucial game in Istanbul has been raised yet further by the head of the Turkish FA.

Taking issue with Eriksson's thoughts on the hostility of Turkish fans, Hanuk Ulonsoy is quoted in the Daily Mirror as saying: "He will be sacked [after the game] because he will have no credibility left.

"He will be only fit to manage the national team of Patagonia."

Er, isn't that in Chile, or is it Argentina?

Meanwhile, the Daily Star claims new Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has been told by club owner Roman Abramovich to bring Beckham to Stamford Bridge.

And the Daily Mail reckons Blackburn boss Graeme Souness is Chelsea's preferred option should Eriksson decline to assume control after Euro 2004.

All the football hype means minor matters, such as industrial action by jockeys, and Kelli White losing her 100 and 200m world titles after failing a drugs test, barely get a look in.

But few stories, if any, are big enough to stop Becks bagging the limelight.