David Beckham will reject the chance to make one final appearance for England, a person familiar with the former captain's plans said Thursday.

David Beckham's record-setting England career appears to be over after coach Fabio Capello indicated Wednesday the midfielder is too old.

A month after Spain beat the Netherlands to win the World Cup final, international soccer returns to the spotlight this week.

Its chairman is Swedish, a growing chunk of its revenue comes from Russia and its incoming chief executive speaks with an American accent. So goes the Britishness in the company once known as British Petroleum.

One by one, Germany is settling old scores.

The World Cup proved that Diego Maradona is no coaching genius. Nor was he the clown that some expected.

French legislators huddled behind closed doors to investigate an issue of national importance - not terrorism or recession, but the French football team's meltdown at the World Cup.

Yet again, the World Cup has produced cold, hard evidence to blow away the long enduring myth that England is a mighty soccer power.

England midfielder Frank Lampard had a shot cross the goal line Sunday in a 4-1 World Cup loss to Germany, but referee Jorge Larrionda of Uruguay did not award a goal.

Germany's latest World Cup victory over England will be remembered not for any of the brilliant goals, but for the one that didn't count.

Thomas Mueller scored twice in the second half Sunday and England had a goal not awarded by the referee in a 4-1 victory that put Germany into the World Cup quarterfinals.

Germany and England go head to head for a place in the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, both trying to ignore the hype that always surrounds their soccer matches.