DAVID Beckham cut through the despondency surrounding England last night when he insisted they remain favourites to qualify for Euro 2004, despite Turkey's runaway start to their Group Seven campaign.

England could have to win away to the Turks, 5-0 winners over Liechtenstein on Wednesday to extend their record to three victories out of three, in their final fixture to finish above the team that came third in the World Cup.

Certainly, Sven-Goran Eriksson and his side cannot countenance failing to beat Turkey at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on April 2, 2003 in what is shaping up as the group's defining match.

But England captain Beckham was upbeat as he reflected on the disastrous 2-2 draw with Macedonia - a result that left Turkey five points clear of England, who have a game in hand.

He said: "I wouldn't say we're second favourites to win this group because so many things can happen.

"We saw in the World Cup the way things can change, with teams beaten when everyone expected them to win.

"Hopefully, that will be the case here, and I certainly can't see other teams finding it easy in Slovakia.

"It was very frustrating that we didn't beat Macedonia, but we've got a good team spirit and we'll pick ourselves up from this."

Beckham's sentiments were echoed by Gary Neville, who recalled England's terrific results in Italy and Germany in their last two World Cup qualification campaigns.

In 1997, England needed to avoid defeat in Rome and Glenn Hoddle's team drew 0-0.

And the memory of Michael Owen's hat-trick in the 5-1 destruction of Germany in Munich last September is still fresh in the minds of every England player.

The prospect of a trip to Turkey needing a result in 12 months' time holds no fears for Neville, who said: "No one gave us a chance of winning in Germany.

"People thought we couldn't go to Italy five years ago and get a draw, and we did.

"Drawing with Macedonia leaves us maybe having to beat Turkey twice, which is not an ideal position.

"But we've beaten Spain, Germany and Argentina in the last 18 months, so I don't think we should be worried about Turkey.

l Sven-Goran Eriksson is adamant he has the necessary ruthless streak to axe under-performing players and he will use the four months before England's next game to see whether David Seaman falls into that category.

Eriksson maintains the Arsenal goalkeeper is still as good as ever but he will have to be near-perfect for his club after his aberration against Macedonia if he is to play for England again.

The likelihood is that Eriksson will decide that the time has come for change. After 75 caps Seaman might jump before he is pushed - if so England fans will be hoping he times his jump right for once.

Eriksson's reputation as a tactical genius has taken something of a battering.

Scrutiny of the Swede will become more intense if England fail to win Group Seven and qualify for Europe outright, but Seaman's international future commands the immediate attention.

Eriksson, as he would, remained completely loyal to his keeper but there was enough in his carefully-chosen words to suggest that Seaman's battle to be in goal for February's friendly, possibly against Denmark, will not be uphill so much as Himalayan.

''I don't think that David Seaman has changed,'' said the England coach. ''He made a mistake but you will never find a goalkeeper who will never make mistakes that's for sure."