David Beckham is willing to fly thousands of miles to keep playing for England yet Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta had no qualms about quitting the Italy side.
 
Totti rarely looked comfortable with the Azzurri while recently-married Nesta, who has just announced his international retirement, has struggled with injury and felt he could give no more at the age of  31.
 
Beckham on the other hand never lost hope when he was dropped by Steve McClaren and some fighting displays at the end of his Real Madrid career brought him back into the fold. He is now willing to risk almost monthly trips back to Europe from the LA Galaxy to continue his England dream.
 
The difference between the two cases can be summed up in four words — World Cup winner’s medal.
 
Totti and Nesta have theirs neatly tucked away in a drawer. There is little else left to achieve in international football, which is exactly why coach Marcello Lippi quit so quickly after their triumph in Berlin last July.
 
Zinedine Zidane won a World Cup, lost a World Cup, quit and was tempted back before finishing his career with the infamous headbutt. 
 
Beckham did not want a sorry ending and is ready to rack up the air miles in the hope of going out on a high.   
 
Mark Meadows, Milan