David Beckham knows all about penalty shootout heartache from his time with England so he refused to be downbeat when his LA Galaxy side missed out on the MLS Championship title.

Beckham, looking to win a league title in a third country, following his successes with Manchester United and Real Madrid, played his part as the MLS Cup final with Real Salt Lake ended 1-1.

Beckham then scored his penalty in the shootout, but could do little as team-mate and MLS Player of the Season Landon Donovan skied his kick over the bar.

Salt Lake keeper Nick Rimando saved from Edson Buddle, allowing Robbie Russell to send home the winning spot-kick as Real Salt Lake won 5-4.

But Beckham said: “It’s Russian roulette. “It’s not a nice way to go out. It’s just the way it is.”

Real Salt Lake were crowned champions despite having been the last team to book their play-off spot and they failed to end the regular season with a winning record.

But coach Jason Kreis said: “It’s nice to say we’re the best team in the league. My honest opinion is we deserved to win that game.”

Jermain Defoe's five-star display against Wigan has earned him a place in England’s World Cup squad for South Africa 2010.

At least that would be the case if his club boss Harry Redknapp was running the England set-up.

However, Spurs supremo Redknapp insists England boss Fabio Capello could only have been impressed by his pocket dynamo on Sunday, and will have him pencilled into his final 23.

“Wayne Rooney’s fantastic - a complete all-round player - but as a finisher, Defoe is the best out there,” the Spurs boss said.

“I’m sure he’ll go to the World Cup. Fabio will see the goals he’s scored.

“He’s got stronger this season and is using his upper body strength a bit more and holding people off and Capello will be impressed.

“When he concentrates and plays his football, he can be unstoppable.”

All those Ireland fans still angry that their team will not be at South Africa 2010 should spare a thought for Thierry Henry.

Henry will be playing at the World Cup, but he has revealed he almost quit international football after he was branded a ‘cheat’ for, well, cheating in their World Cup play-off.

Asked whether he thought of quitting, Henry said: “Oh yes. On Friday when it all went too far.”