London: David Beckham has ruled out retiring from international football after the World Cup and set his sights on winning 100 caps for England under the successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The 30-year-old, is on 86 caps currently and can expect to add to that tally in England's matches before and during this summer's World Cup finals in Germany.
But it is by no means certain that whoever succeeds Eriksson after the tournament will want to retain the Real Madrid midfielder as captain and an automatic first-choice on the right of midfield.
Eriksson was severely criticised for keeping faith with Beckham after his lacklustre performances at Euro 2004 and Shaun Wright-Phillips' lively display for Chelsea in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Everton was a timely reminder that England do have other options.
But Beckham, who is set to extend his contract at Real, is determined to convince the next England boss that he can carry on at least until the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.
"I want to play keep playing for England and get as many caps as possible," Beckham said.
"If I'm involved in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, I'll go over the 100-caps mark which will be nice. I'm not counting it down but it is a goal I want to reach. I want to go on from there, though. I don't just want to reach 100 and say OK I'll retire now. I want more and more."
"I'm not sure I'll ever get to Peter Shilton's record of 125 but you never know. I don't want to finish before Euro 2008, and I'd love to go on to the 2010 World Cup but I don't think that will happen because I'll be 35 by then."
Beckham, speaking to The Sun newspaper, said he would not mind if England opted for another foreign coach to succeed Eriksson.
PSV Eindhoven and Australia coach Guus Hiddink has been touted as one of the leading candidates for the post.
Thursday's Daily Mirror claimed the Football Association had narrowed its search down to three home-grown candidates -- former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce and Charlton's Alan Curbishley.
The FA denied the report. O'Neill is currently on a sabbatical from football, caring for his wife who has been treated for cancer.
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