Coach asks injured Beckham to join England

Madrid: England have asked midfielder David Beckham to join them at the World Cup in South Africa even though he will not be able to play due to an Achilles tendon injury, coach Fabio Capello was quoted as saying on Friday.

"We have asked Beckham to come to South Africa with us," Capello was quoted as saying in an interview with Spain's Gol Television.

"It depends on him and how his tendon injury is," the Italian added. "It's obvious he won't be able to play because we have to wait six months."