六年前，25岁的贝克汉姆从英格兰临时主教练皮特·泰勒手中接过了队长袖标，六年后，在英格兰世界杯1/4决赛里点球负于葡萄牙队的悲情时刻，31岁的贝克汉姆宣布辞去英格兰足球队长一职。北京时间7月2日下午，英格兰国家队举行了新闻发布会，队长贝克汉姆宣布自己将辞去国家队队长的职务。 “我觉得现在是交出队长袖标的时候了，我们将进入麦克拉伦(新任主教练)时代。”在说这些话的时候，小贝已经泪流满面，“我已经实现了我的梦想，我为我能够戴上队长的袖标，成为英格兰队的队长感到非常自豪……” The England midfielder, on the verge of tears, read a statement announcing he would step down with the change of manager, as Sven-Goran Eriksson hands over to Steve McClaren. Beckham said former caretaker England manager Peter Taylor had given him "the greatest honor of my career ... and fulfilled my childhood dream," by appointing him as captain in November 2000 for a friendly with Italy in Turin. But he continued: "I feel the time is right to pass on the armband. "As we enter a new era under Steve McClaren, it has been an honor and a privilege to have captained our country and I want to stress that I wish to continue to play for England. "And I look forward to helping both the new captain and Steve McClaren in any way I can. "I came to this decision some time ago but I had hoped to announce it on the back of a successful World Cup. Sadly, that wasn't to be. Beckham had been in tears after being substituted due to injury early in the second half of Saturday's agonizing defeat by Portugal in a penalty shootout. It followed a Group B campaign and a second-round victory over Ecuador, secured with a Beckham free kick, in which England had never really got into gear. "Our performance during this World Cup has not been enough to progress further and both myself and all the players regret that -- and are hurt by that more than people realize," said the 31-year-old. Beckham thanked the players, Taylor, Eriksson and the coaching staff for their support during his time as captain, along with the media and the England fans. "For me it has been an absolute honor. "Finally, I have lived the dream," Beckham said, now with his voice faltering with the emotion. "I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and to have been captain of England. And for that I will always be grateful." Beckham, wearing a navy blue England suit then got up and left the media center at England's training ground at Buhlertal, near their Baden Baden hotel. Vocabulary: step down: 辞职，下台 friendly: 友谊赛 armband: 臂章 penalty shootout: 点球大战 free kick : 任意球 I have lived the dream: 我终是实现了梦想
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