Sport 15-11-2000 Beckham Hopes To Lead By Example who: England football team what: Play Italy in friendly where: Italy when: Tonight snippet: England skipper David Beckham hopes he can live up to the example set by Tony Adams, says The Star`s Danny Fullbrook as the team prepare for their friendly against Italy in Turin tonight. After Beckham`s senseless red card against Argentina in the World Cup made him "the most hated man in English football," it was Adams who helped him revive his reputation, the Manchester United star said yesterday. Tonight, he will himself hope to lead by example. "I have learnt from the way Tony acted towards me and I am fully aware that in the future I may need to give the same comfort to another player that Tony gave to me," he says. "Maybe this may change the way the fans treat me". "David Beckham has not got to boss everybody about," said caretaker manager Peter Taylor. "He`s got to control the game and then take on the extra responsibility of captaincy." "Beckham will be crucial to the task of stopping Italy gaining a grip in midfield through Demetrio Albertini linking with Stefano Fiore," agrees The Guardian`s David Lacey. "Should the ball be given away as recklessly as it was under Keegan this is one Italian job which will not get out of Turin unscathed." [... more]

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