Injured Beckham buoyed by support

PARIS - David Beckham is coming to terms, in positive fashion, with losing out on the chance to extend his international career at a fourth World Cup this summer.

And despite being ruled out for several months with an Achilles tendon injury, leading figures in Britain are rallying round the "major sporting icon" to make sure he feels an integral part of the campaign, and beyond.

Lauded in recent days by Britain's poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and sent best wishes by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, 34-year-old Beckham was reminded of his importance to the England set-up again on Wednesday.