David Beckham was left 'fed up' after being booed by Argentina fans during England's World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, according to a body language expert. The expert also claimed he was 'unprepared' for the brutal reaction from the crowd.
Beckham's Reaction to the Boos
The former England legend, 51, attended England's match against Argentina, hoping to secure a spot in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19. When the camera cut to him and his wife Victoria watching the match, they were heckled horrendously. Body language expert Inbaal Honigman, speaking on behalf of Covers.com, said Beckham went through 'several different emotions' after hearing the boos, ranging from surprise to contempt.
'There's surprise – Beckham's eyebrows go up and his mouth turns into a ring, nearly an O-shape,' Honigman said. 'This is the facial expression of astonishment, as he is caught off guard. During this surprised moment, he hasn't decided yet whether this is annoying or funny, but he instantly sees it as disrespectful.'
Contempt and Skepticism
Honigman noted that underwhelmed emotions followed, as Beckham raised one eyebrow, signifying skepticism. 'With this single raised eyebrow, Beckham glances at the Argentina supporters with mild contempt. He indicates that he's looking down his nose at the boo-ers, with this uneven eyebrow expression,' she said.
After hearing the boos for a sustained time, Beckham was left looking 'fed up', almost signalling that he was getting a headache from the noise. However, as soon as the heckling ended, Honigman said he 'quickly recovers and goes back to his amenable, beatific smile'.
Beckham's History with Argentina
Beckham's history against Argentina is well-known. He was infamously sent off during the 1998 World Cup in England's match against the White and Sky-Blues after kicking Diego Simeone. He made a comeback four years later, scoring against Argentina at the 2002 tournament. Despite the poor reception, Honigman claimed it's likely the booing will not make a mark on his ego or personality.
Fan Reactions on Social Media
England fans were not happy with the reaction on social media. One user fumed: 'Fans shouldn't disrespect football legends like Beckham. At least he accords some respect.' A second said: 'A reminder of how intense football rivalries can be.' Another wrote: 'Football memories never die.'
