Leading 1-0, Wayne Rooney's run from the halfway line frightened Manchester United's Mikael Silvestre into conceding the spot-kick, but his former Old Trafford team mate, Fabien Barthez, made a fine save from Beckham to keep the French within reach.

"I couldn't have struck it any better," said Beckham.

"I hold my hands up for that. We played some great football and couldn't have done much better. Fair play to Fabien, he read it well."

Despite the huge disappointment, Beckham is determined to not let it affect the team with two vital games still to come.

"We didn't deserve that but that's football."

"We deserved to win. For 89 minutes we performed well and maybe if I had put the penalty away it would have finished them off. 

"We can take a lot from the game. It's important we pick ourselves up and get up for the next game."

13 June 2004  
David Beckham post-match AUDIO