Galaxy to See More of Beckham in 2008

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - England's loss is the Los Angeles Galaxy's gain - again. When England's national team was eliminated by Croatia, 3-2, in a Euro 2008 qualifier Wednesday, it ensured the Galaxy would not lose David Beckham to national team duty for up to a month next year. Had England prevailed Wednesday and qualified for next summer's Euro 2008 finals, Los Angeles would have lost its prize acquisition for a big chunk of a second straight season.

Beckham signed a five-year contract with the Galaxy in January reportedly worth a staggering $250 million. Los Angeles did not get much bang for its buck in the first year of the deal, however, as the English superstar missed several games due to injury after joining the squad in July. Ankle and knee injuries limited the 32-year-old Beckham to just five MLS appearances - two starts - with the Galaxy. He finished the season with zero goals and two assists. Asked after Wednesday's loss if he would continue playing for England if picked, Beckham said: "Without a doubt. I'm not retiring. "I said that the moment I was taken out of the team and the moment I came back into the team. I'm not stepping down."