'Beckham... a whinger' - Queiroz

Former Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz has dismissed suggestions from David Beckham that the club's fitness regime was partly to blame for his poor form at Euro 2004 and said the England captain was merely looking for excuses.

"I'm not surprised by Beckham's comments," Queiroz said.

"He's always making excuses. When he failed in South Korea, when he failed in Portugal with England he always had an excuse."

Queiroz said that Beckham should look to Luis Figo as an example.

"During the last three weeks of the season Figo was at every training session giving 100 per cent, but David missed some for various reasons, or sometimes for no reason at all."

Queiroz also said that Beckham's decision to join his family at an Alpine skiing resort in April while he was banned from Real's Champions League match against Monaco could have had an effect on the player's performance at the end of the season.

"Figo didn't go skiing in the winter," he said. "That's where the difference lies. I'm not hurt by what David said but the reality is there for everyone to see."