Crouch scores twice for England, Beckham gets assist in 3-0 win over Belarus

Crouch scores twice for England against Belarus

WEMBLEY, England — David Beckham entered England’s final World Cup qualifier in the 59th minute and still was selected man of the match.

“I just told him it was like Obama getting the Nobel Prize after eight months of being president of the United States,” England coach Fabio Capello said. “Beckham gets after 30 minutes.”

Peter Crouch scored twice, Beckham got an assist after entering as a second-half substitute and England completed World Cup qualifying with a 3-0 victory over Belarus on Wednesday night.

Crouch scored in the fourth and 76th minutes, and Shaun Wright-Phillips got a goal in the 59th minute off a short corner kick from Beckham.

The selection of man of the match was made by television commentator Steve Bruce, Beckham’s former Manchester United teammate.

“I’m a little bit embarrassed,” Beckham said.

With his 115th international appearance, Beckham moved within 10 of the English record held by retired goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

England (9-1), which clinched a World Cup berth last month, finished first in Group Six with 27 points, six ahead of second-place Ukraine (6-1-3), which goes to next month’s European playoffs.

“Always it’s important to win,” Capello said. “We lost one game and it’s important for me to learn more things about the players. I am happy for the second half and for the goals that we scored.

“There were some good things, some not so good. It’s something the players know, but those ideas are for us. I’m not happy because we had to wait too many times to win back the ball. This is not the first time.”

The English played their final qualifier without injured regulars Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. Substitute James Milner and Beckham both hit posts late in the match.