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Becks to receive invite

Image: Beckham: In demand

David Beckham could make an appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony.

South Africans want injured midfielder at curtain-raiser

David Beckham could make an appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony as organisers plan to invite the injured England midfielder. The 34-year-old has been ruled out of playing at the tournament after rupturing an Achilles tendon while on loan with AC Milan. But it has been reported that England boss Fabio Capello still wants Beckham to travel to South Africa with his squad, while the English Football Association is keen to use his status to help its bid to host the 2018 World Cup. World Cup organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan hopes the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star will also be tempted to make an appearance when the curtain is raised at this summer's competition. "I think that already there is an indication that he (Beckham) will come with the England team and he will work for the 2018 bid," Jordaan said at a Fifa event in South Africa. "So we will meet him when he comes here. We will talk to him when he gets here."

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