updated 12:56 p.m. ET June 17, 2008

LONDON - David Beckham thought his England career was over when he was dropped in 2006. The LA Galaxy midfielder has savored every minute of his return and won’t grumble when the run finally ends.

Beckham doesn’t expect any sentimentality from England coach Fabio Capello even though his former Real Madrid boss enabled him to surpass 100 career appearances in March.

“I won’t get a phone call when I’m left out and I won’t expect one,” Beckham was quoted as saying in Tuesday’s edition of The Times of London, speaking in an interview in Los Angeles. “With the manager, I could be sitting at home one day and not be in the squad and it is all over, and I won’t complain.

“I just need to know that I have done as much as I can.”

For the 3-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago earlier this month, Capello restored Beckham to the captaincy he relinquished after the 2006 World Cup.

But Beckham acknowledges that Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Steven Gerrard are more likely long-term candidates for the role.

“I’m older, one of the more experienced, and if it (the captaincy) was handed to me at any point I would never turn it down,” the 33-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid star said. “But there are lots of candidates who are ready for it now.

Slideshow Fetching footballers Take a look at the hottest players in Euro 2008. NBCSports.com

“We are very lucky because we’ve got players in our team who are leaders, captains — Steven Gerrard, Rio, JT (John Terry), we are very lucky to have a lot of leaders.”

Beckham was initially dropped by Steve McClaren in August 2006, but restored as England’s European Championship campaign faltered. McClaren was fired last November after failing to qualify for Euro 2008, but Beckham has survived the Capello revolution — for now.

England plays the Czech Republic in an exhibition match in August before World Cup qualifying begins the following month.

“I didn’t think I would be here,” Beckham said. “When I was left out at the start of the Euro qualifiers, I just thought, ’That’s it, that’s my England career done.’

“So it is not a question of taking it or leaving it now. It is just that I have seen before how quickly it can all get taken away from you.”

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