Europe Tries to Bend It Like Beckham in Charity Match

In a charity match celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and Manchester United's half century of play in European soccer, England's most storied team beat a squad of European all-stars 4-3. This game was filled with all kinds of symbolism. David Beckham, the world's most popular athlete, played his last game in England against his former team as a member of the Europe XI squad. That the most famous British soccer club defeated a team representing the Europe Union can also be seen as symbolic of Britain's tortured relationship with the EU. In the end, Europe got to celebrate its "birthday" with a good game, but Manchester's victory certainly won't do anything to promote a European identity in one of the most euroskeptic member states.