An Australian newspaper Monday offered England midfielder David Beckham a free first-class ticket to Australia to watch the upcoming Ashes cricket series — because it believes he will ensure England lose. That’s just harsh.
In the past week, England’s most recognizable sporting face has been seen at two of his country’s most painful sporting defeats in recent times. After watching from the bench as England crashed out of the World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa, Goldenballs was in the stands to watch Andy Murray lost his Wimbledon semi-final to Rafael Nadal.
Hopes were high that Murray would become the first Brit to win the men’s Wimbledon crown since Fred Perry in 1934.
“He may be the self-styled talisman of British sport,” the U.K.’s Daily Mail newspaper said. “But David Beckham’s shine is now looking distinctly tarnished.
“After watching forlornly from the bench as England’s footballers floundered, Beckham looked on helplessly again yesterday as Andy Murray slumped to defeat. Beforehand, he had been heralded as Murray’s most special guest. But by yesterday evening, some fans were whispering the ‘Curse of Beckham’ had hit SW19.”
The mention of a curse immediately prompted The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph into offering Beckham a free ticket to Australia for what is one of the biggest events in the nation’s sporting calendar.
“England’s biggest fear heading into this year’s Ashes series won’t be of man-eating crocodiles, venomous snakes or large hairy spiders,” it wrote. “Fear will come dressed in designer clothes and be sporting plenty of hair-product. That’s right. Every English player will be hoping for just one thing: that David Beckham isn’t within 1,000km (621 miles) of the Gabba (Brisbane Cricket Ground) when the first Test starts in November.”
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia that dates back to 1882.
It is currently played biennially, alternately in the U.K. and Australia.
(This article is provided by NewsCore, which aggregates news from around News Corporation.)