Beckham got 'Obama' man of match award because Crouch snubbed Sunderland!

London, Oct.16 (ANI): In a new twist to the man of the match award given to David Beckham instead of Peter Crouch after the England-Ukraine match, adjudicator Steve Bruce joked that he controversially picked substitute Beckham because two goal scoring Crouch had snubbed a Sunderland offer this summer.

Crouch rejected Sunderland's offer in the summer to join the Spurs.

Bruce, who still harbors ambitions of signing Beckham for the second half of the season, joked: "Crouchy? That's why I didn't give him man of the match! He turned me down in the summer - that's why I didn't give it to him."

England boss Capello likened the decision to US President Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

"He (Beckham) gave that lift. He still plays with the same enthusiasm he has for the last 12 years. He had the biggest impact on the game even though he was only on for 35 minutes. He lifted the whole occasion," The Mirror quoted Bruce, as saying. (ANI)