IF ever one person illustrated the short distance between triumph and disaster it is David Beckham. Three years ago, after one moment of impetuosity saw him blamed for England's exit from the World Cup, he became a national villain, booed wherever he played, vilified in the newspapers and the object of bar-room fury.

Now, after leading England to the brink of an unlikely qualification for next year's World Cup, including a jaw-dropping victory over Germany and Wednesday's win over Albania, he has become a national hero.

When he says he would consider himself a failure as England captain if he failed to lead the team to victory in a major championship, he displays both his pride in wearing the armband and the new-found optimism for the national team.

While his performances in an England shirt have always been marked by his commitment and passion, since taking over the captaincy, there has been an added determination. Every mistake, every misplaced cross, every goal conceded becomes a personal tragedy; every accurate ball, every tackle won, every goal scored, a personal triumph.

No player among the current England set-up puts as much emotion into playing for their country as David Beckham. Every close-up shows how much he cares. No one ever had any doubts about his skill, but the fans have also come to respect his dedication to the cause and his steely-eyed determination never to let second-best be good enough.

Even before the Germany game, in which he played a crucial role, he had become a totemic figure to the team. The prospect of a groin injury keeping him out of the game was greeted with much wailing and gnashing of teeth, seen as more or less scuppering whatever slim hopes England had of achieving even a draw.

But this is all a far cry from those dark days of France '98. England had come up against old foes Argentina, and were holding their own against a team considered one of the best in the world. It seemed as though an unexpected, and long overdue, victory was on the cards. And then England's, and Beckham's, worlds fell in.

Lying face down on the ground after being upended by Diego Simeone, all he had to do was pull himself to his feet while the Argentine midfielder was booked. Instead, he stuck out his leg and kicked Simeone in the knee. Simeone fell to the ground in agony, the referee was just feet away and Beckham was sent off.

Ten-man England bravely battled on but when it came to the penalty shoot-out the strain took its toll and they tumbled out, defiant and admired, but still beaten.

No prizes for guessing who took the blame. Every kind of opprobrium was heaped on Beckham's young shoulders. He was the flawed genius who had single-handedly destroyed his country's dreams. And his personal life ensured he became not just an object of hate but also of ridicule. From the sarong to the revelation that he wore his wife's knickers, he seemed to be inviting mockery.

It has been a long road back, but Beckham has once more been clasped to the nation's bosom. His refusal, on the whole, to respond to the taunts has won a grudging respect, and his determination to let his ability answer his critics has fuelled his reputation. Fathers are now happy again to let their sons take him for a role model.

But it is not just on the pitch where he has turned adversity into triumph. It is easy to sneer at the gauche lifestyle of the Beckhams - the wedding thrones, the his'n'hers leather catsuits, the different hairstyle every week. But there seems to be no doubt about his devotion to wife Victoria, and hers to him. In every photograph and every interview the impression is of a couple devoted to each other, and to their son Brooklyn.

You don't have to have your son's name tattooed on your back to show you are a doting father, but it helps. From parading him around Old Trafford, to wearing football boots with his name on, Beckham is not ashamed to show his feelings.

And he has also demonstrated that rare quality in a celebrity of being able to laugh at himself. Appearing on the Ali G Show, he was the willing butt of jokes about his intelligence. After all, he is one of the best footballers in the world, what does he care about intelligence?

Of course, fortune is fickle. One kick and it could all be over and he could once again be public enemy number one. But, for now, David Beckham should be enjoying his new-found status as national icon. It may have seemed unlikely at one point, but Beckham's transformation has been complete