Whelan claims Eriksson should leave out Real Madrid star Beckham for the World Cup quarterfinal clash against Portugal in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday because he is no longer worthy of a place in the side.

He also thinks Eriksson should abandon the traditional British 4-4-2 system and go for an attacking 4-3-3 formation instead.

Beckham scored the winner against Ecuador in the second round and also provided the cross for Peter Crouch's decisive goal in the Group B match against Trinidad and Tobago.

But Whelan has been infuriated by Beckham's inconsistent displays and said Eriksson should act now.

"He has to have the right team selection and the guts to drop David Beckham, but he hasn't," said the Wigan supremo.

"He believes in him, but Beckham is a luxury. He doesn't tackle and is never involved other than being a dead-ball specialist, and he is not a captain.

"We have been poor. Everybody in the land knows we haven't played to our potential, with the quality we have.

"He has to go for it now, play 4-3-3 and let England play the way England can because I think we will win if he plays the right team."

Whelan also berated the Sweden over his selection of Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott.

"And why he has taken this young kid (Walcott), I don't know. He has not even played in the Premier League," fumed Whelan.

"To make a mistake in taking this young boy is unforgivable. It's an insult and I'm sure it's embarrassing for the lad because basically he is the ball boy. He is never going to get on."

Despite his criticism, Whelan hopes Eriksson can prove him wrong by leading England to World Cup glory for the first time since 1966.

"Having said all that, I want Mr Eriksson to make me and the rest of the critics eat our words.

"I'd love to say to him well done because for England to win would be fantastic for the nation."