THE countdown to the European Championship finals began yesterday when the England squad gathered for the first game of the year, against Portugal tomorrow, and David Beckham showed a healthy realism regarding the country’s prospects. The captain was asked if, 38 years on from the solitary World Cup success, England could at last lift an important trophy. “I would like to think this is the time,” he said. “But we always say that and we haven’t won anything for years.”

Other countries, notably France, possess more talent, so England must do everything to aid the national team’s chances. Avoiding another mutiny by the players would be a good move and, back in the Hertfordshire hotel where the squad took the controversial vote to strike in October, Beckham met Mark Palios, the Football Association’s chief executive, last night to check that rules on selection were being drawn up after the Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith sagas.

“It is just to discuss what’s gone on with the last couple of matches, which we are all fed up about,” Beckham said of the meeting. “We are moving forward and, if everything has been done that the players and everyone wanted, there will be no questions from my side. We don’t want to be going into a big competition worried about anything like that.”

Nor do they want to be fretting over the future of their head coach, Sven-Göran Eriksson, but the uncertainty could easily drag into the summer. Claudio Ranieri is almost certain to lose his job and, if Chelsea’s season was to end early, the speculation about Eriksson moving to Stamford Bridge will only intensify before June.

The FA complicated the matter by offering Eriksson a two-year extension to a contract that runs until 2006 and Beckham, showing his assertiveness as an international captain, did not shy from criticising the governing body yesterday. “I think the offer would have been better after the tournament,” he said. “It’s caused a lot of problems in terms of questions from the press and everyone he meets.”

The pre-tournament revelation that Bobby Robson would be leaving after the 1990 World Cup did not stop the team reaching the semi-finals, but England could do without any bombshells before they play France on June 13 at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. The squad enjoys working with the Swede, as a record of one defeat in 19 competitive games testifies, and would not welcome news that he was to leave. “We would all be devastated, ” Beckham said. “Some people were not exactly wanting him here because he was a foreign manager with the England team, but he got respect straight away. If you have a good manager like him, you don’t want to lose him.

“I am sure the speculation will come up, even if he signs a ten-year contract, but he should be allowed to get on with leading us into Euro 2004. I am sure you are fed up with asking him about it. He’s getting fed up as well. To be honest, I would rather talk about the game and the championship.”

If a strike can be avoided and Eriksson rebuffs any more offers to take tea with Roman Abramovich, at least until July, England’s preoccupation will be injuries. They cannot afford to lose players as they did going into the last World Cup finals, when Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard withdrew while Beckham and Kieron Dyer were half-fit.

Unless Ferdinand overturns his eight-month ban for missing a drugs test on appeal, Eriksson is already without a first-choice centre half who excelled at the last World Cup. John Terry and Jonathan Woodgate are competing for Ferdinand’s place and the latter is not mounting much of a challenge because of a succession of injuries.

Terry has started the past five internationals and, in Faro tomorrow, should play alongside Gareth Southgate. Ledley King, the Tottenham Hotspur defender, was called up yesterday as cover after the withdrawal of Sol Campbell.

“I’m sure it will go down to the wire with me and Woody,” Terry said, though he is confident that he can keep the jersey. “I really feel that this has been my best season for Chelsea. I’ve been really consistent week in, week out and it has been pleasing to make the step up to international football. I’ve played the last five games and, hopefully, I can keep the England shirt for the summer.

“I think that being captain at Chelsea has helped me become a better player and an international player. There is a lot more responsibility. That is something which I like and have thrived on. That’s a great achievement for me, to captain a side like Chelsea.”

Terry was one of nine players who missed training yesterday after playing on Sunday. Beckham was among them after playing 90 minutes for Real Madrid in the 1-1 draw with Valencia that kept them top of La Liga. Eriksson and his squad will fly to Portugal this afternoon as serious preparations for tomorrow, and the summer, begin.

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