Croatia match is not about revenge, says David Beckham

David Beckham has praised Fabio Capello for restoring England's fragile belief.

Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images

David Beckham says England's World Cup qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday is "not about revenge". Beckham was part of the side that faced Croatia on their last visit to Wembley in 2007, when a 3-2 victory for Slaven Bilic's side meant England missed out on a place at Euro 2008.

Beckham, though, insists the squad are focused only on the future. "The game on Wednesday is not about revenge," he said. "Yes, it was a tough time for the players, for everyone involved in the national team and the fans. But the most important thing is that we go into the game knowing if we win it we are in the World Cup so thoughts of revenge are a long way away."

England were 2-0 down when the midfielder came on as a half-time substitute in the defeat in November 2007, helping Steve McClaren's side claw back the scoreline to 2-2 before losing to Mladen Petric's 77th-minute goal. It proved to be McClaren's last game in charge of the national side, but Beckham said he and the other players who played that night have shaken off the disappointment.

"I have had lower moments in an England shirt," he said, "but when you lose a game as important as that, which means so much to everybody, it hits you hard as a player. Everyone was upset in the dressing room but we have got over that as a squad, a team and a nation."

Beckham says McClaren's replacement, Fabio Capello, has rebuilt England's confidence since that shattering defeat. "He's brought belief back into this squad," said the 34-year-old, who will be hoping to win his 114th cap on Wednesday. "After we didn't qualify last time we lost the belief of the fans and that is what we needed to get back. We need the belief and we needed the trust of the fans and that is what we have got back."

The midfielder was keen to play down the importance of Saturday's underwhelming display against Slovenia. "You're always going to have that with friendly games," he said. "[The manager] tried new players and new positions and swapped them around a lot and that's what these games give you. There were times when the players didn't play as well as they can and they know that. But we came through without any injuries and that is the main thing."