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LONDON, England -- Former England captain David Beckham has said he will fight to win back his international place after being dropped by new manager Steve McClaren following this year's World Cup.
"I know people said I should have seen it coming," the 31-year-old Real Madrid player told Saturday's Daily Mirror newspaper.
"But I never saw it coming. It was a total shock. It's a terrible feeling not playing for England after 10 years of being involved."
Beckham said McClaren had contacted him before last month's friendly against Greece to tell him he had been left out of the England squad.
The former Manchester United star has won 94 caps and it is his stated ambition to join the exclusive '100' club.
"I didn't announce my international retirement because I want to play for England again," he said.
"I still want to reach that milestone of playing for England 100 times and help them win the European championship.
"It's a target I set myself a long time ago and I won't give up now."
Beckham's chances of a squad recall may have been helped by the news that England winger Aaron Lennon must undergo knee surgery.
Tottenham's Lennon, who plays in the same right-wing role vacated by Beckham, will miss England's next two Euro 2008 qualifiers at home to Macedonia on October 7 and away to Croatia four days later.
McClaren has so far employed Liverpool's Steven Gerrard on the right of midfield.
