Becks: Brooklyn made me smile again

David Beckham told today how his World Cup despair was washed away when his son welcomed him home with the words: "I love you so much, daddy".

Brooklyn, three, put a smile back on the England captain's face when he threw himself into his arms as he returned home after the 2-1 defeat against Brazil in the quarter finals. Beckham said: "Like the rest of the lads, I was still feeling totally gutted. I honestly thought we could win. But when Brooklyn saw me, he rushed up and said 'I love you so much, Daddy'.

"Then he gave me the strongest hug I have ever had in my life. It meant so much to me after all we had been through."

In an interview with the Sun, Beckham, 27, told how he was also comforted by his seven-months pregnant wife Victoria. He said: "Victoria said, 'I am so proud of you - and so is everybody else in the country. The whole of England knows you all did the best you could'.

"Of course, it is going to take time for the wounds of not winning to heal. But now I just want to spend some time with Victoria and Brooklyn."