0
HIGASHIURA (Japan), June 5: Captain David Beckham apologised to England supporters on Wednesday for failing to applaud them after their 1-1 World Cup draw with Sweden.
England trudged off the Saitama pitch on Sunday, after being outplayed in the second half by the Swedes, and failed to pay the usual tribute to the team’s fans — many of whom had travelled from the other side of the world to support them.
But Beckham sought to make amends on Wednesday, telling a news conference: “I’d like to make an official apology, from me and the rest of the players.
“On Sunday, the support we got from the England fans and the Japanese fans who were supporting England was absolutely amazing, and after the game we didn’t go up to them. And that was a big mistake.
“It’s never happened before, especially when I’ve been playing, and we’d just like to say sorry for that.
“They deserve a lot better than what they got and it definitely won’t happen again. We’ll make sure of that.”
Up to 8,000 England fans are believed to have travelled to Japan to follow their team, a trip which will have cost each of them several thousand pounds.
However, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men also enjoy strong support among young Japanese, many of whom idolise Beckham and team mate Michael Owen.
SOGWIPO: China striker Hao Haidong apologised to Chinese fans on Wednesday for the 2-0 defeat by Costa Rica that virtually extinguished his country’s chances of reaching the second round on their debut.
“I can only express my regret,” Hao, one of Asia’s top strikers, told reporters after a training session on the southern island of Cheju, where China will play their next group C match against Brazil on June 8.
“Although we didn’t win, I hope everyone was satisfied with our performance,” Hao added. “But I am really sorry that we lost. I hope was can play better and better and come up with a satisfactory response.”
China coach Bora Milutinovic had said his team’s best chance of reaching the last 16 was if they beat Costa Rica, one of the weaker sides in a group that also includes Turkey.
But on Wednesday Milutinovic said his team had nothing to be ashamed of.—Reuters
