FABIO CAPELLO last night claimed David Beckham still has plenty to offer in an England shirt, but the national team boss likened the winger’s man-of-the-match award in a 3-0 win over Belarus to Barack Obama’s surprise Nobel Peace Prize. Neither figure, in the Italian’s eyes, did enough to merit their prize.

Beckham was a 58th-minute substitute as England signed off their World Cup qualifying programme on a winning note at Wembley, setting up his side’s second goal and hitting the post on his 115th international appearance.

His passing was crisp and measured, but with Peter Crouch scoring twice and Gareth Barry performing impressively at the heart of midfield, it was still a surprise when he was named as the official man-of-the-match in the stadium, an award that was matched by Sunderland boss Steve Bruce in the studio of ITV television.

With a second successive loan move to AC Milan in the offing, Beckham remains well positioned to make Capello’s 23-man squad for next summer’s finals in South Africa.

But while the England boss admits the former skipper remains a potent presence from the bench, he was surprised by the level of adulation he received last night.

“I didn’t expect it (the manof- the-match award),” said Capello. “I just thought it was like Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He has only been President for a few months, and David Beckham was only on the pitch for about 30 minutes.

“He didn’t play for long, but the thing with Beckham is that it doesn’t matter whether he plays for 20 minutes, 15 minutes or five minutes – whenever he plays, he always plays very well. That is important.

“Sometimes, some players have problems playing their normal game when they come on as a substitute. That is not the case with Beckham. David always plays well for England.”

The same could be said of Crouch. Last night’s brace made it 18 goals in 35 international games for the Tottenham striker, who now boasts 16 strikes in the 18 matches which he has started for his country.

Crouch is vying with Jermain Defoe, Carlton Cole, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Darren Bent and Michael Owen for the two spaces that are likely to exist as back-up to Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey in England’s World Cup squad.

But while last night’s display underlined his goalscoring instincts, Capello insists he is well aware of the forward’s qualities.

“I know Peter Crouch very well,” he said. “But then I know the other players very well as well. He is one part of the squad, and his goalscoring record is very good.

“Peter Crouch has scored a lot of goals for England and I know what he can do.”

Last night’s victory ensured England finished six points clear of Ukraine at the top of Group Six, with a record of nine wins and a defeat from their ten qualifying matches.

Capello’s side scored 34 goals as they booked their place in South Africa, six more than the next highest European scorers, Spain.

Twenty-one of those goals came in five matches at Wembley, and after losing their 100 per cent record in Ukraine on Saturday, Capello was delighted to see his side return to winning ways in their final competitive fixture before the World Cup Finals in June.

“It was important to win,”

he said. “Whenever you lose a game, it is very important that you win the next one. We did that, and I was able to see quite a few things from the team.

“I was pleased with the goals, but I was also pleased with the clean sheet. I thought the second half was good, and I was happy with the way the substitutes played after they came on.”