Eriksson is set to start the crucial group six encounter with a five-man midfield deployed behind a solitary striker, Wayne Rooney.

Beckham did not deny that senior players had been consulted about the shift away from Eriksson's usual 4-4-2, but insisted that the final decisions would be made by the coaching staff.

"This whole player power thing has come up this week and its nothing to do with that," the Real Madrid midfielder said.

"Maybe a little more respect has to be shown to the manager because he is the one who picks the team and he has always been the one who picks the team."

The shift in England's tactics comes partly as a result of Michael Owen being suspended, although last month's 4-1 friendly defeat by Denmark has also influenced Eriksson's thinking.

Eriksson also swept aside suggestions he was being pushed around by Beckham and co., insisting consultation had been part of his style throughout his career as a coach.

"Since 1976 I had meetings with my players," he said. "If I didn't talk to my players, who should I talk?"

Eriksson revealed that he had forced the England players to watch a video of their defeat by Denmark as a warning against complacency.