Beckham out of Spain friendly

MADRID (AFP) - David Beckham has all but ruled himself out of England's friendly international with Spain in Madrid next week.
"I've talked to the doctors at Madrid and I think I won't be able to play the friendly," the Real Madrid midfielder told the AS sports daily on Wednesday.
Beckham, out with a cracked rib since England's World Cup qualifier against Wales, hoped to be fit for Real's crunch matches with Spanish league leaders Barcelona on November 21 and the Champions League clash with Bayern Leverkusen on November 23.
Real trail Barcelona by seven points in the Liga and they are level on points but behind on goal difference to Dynamo Kiev and Leverkusen in the Champions League Group B.

11/10/2004 - 12:40 GMT - AFP