GALAXY NOTEBOOK: BECKHAM CAN FEEL TERRY'S PAIN.

Byline: Scott Wolf 

Staff Writer

David Beckham might no longer be known for the most famous slip on a penalty kick after Chelsea defender John Terry's left foot gave way in the turf and he missed a penalty that would have defeated Manchester United in Wednesday's Champions League final.

Beckham could empathize because he slipped and missed a penalty kick against Portugal in a quarterfinal game of the 2004 European Championships that helped send England out of the tournament.

"Of course it lingers. It's in your mind and it's how you get over that that matters," Beckham said. "He'll get over it. He's a strong character.

"I think at the end of the day, some things you can't help. John Terry's been very unfortunate, but it's all because of the slipping."

Beckham will probably see Terry on Sunday because he leaves immediately after tonight's Galaxy-Kansas City game for England, where he reports for duty for next week's games against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

"I'm always happy to be called up," Beckham said.

A victory over Kansas City would be a good sendoff, or at least an injury-free appearance. Beckham claimed he could have broken his leg last week following a two-footed tackle from Dallas defender Adrian Serioux.

Beckham denied he was a marked man in the MLS because of his high profile.

"Every player will come into some situation at some point," he said. "It's part of the game. At the end of the day, you get on with it."

Mr. 100

Beckham is not the only player going to England. Striker Landon Donovan is expected to earn his 100th international cap Wednesday when the United States plays England at Wembley Stadium in London.

"To do it there would be pretty cool," Donovan said.

It might match the atmosphere of his most memorable appearance in England when he played for Bayer Leverkusen in a Champions League game against Liverpool at Anfield.

"That night was awesome," Donovan said.

Injured coach

Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit was on crutches Friday after undergoing knee surgery for torn cartilage. He said it was an old injury. Gullit denied he injured his knee by kicking anything after the team he formerly coached, Chelsea, dramatically lost on penalty kicks.

He also sympathized with Terry.

"It's painful, of course. It's a mark on your resume," Gullit said. "It will be hard to forget for your whole life."

Full squad

Gullit said he is pleased the Galaxy is pretty much injury-free and getting contributions from players like Edson Buddle and Alvaro Pires, who were instrumental in last week's 5-1 victory over Dallas.

"The way we won was important," Gullit said. "We need players back in form. Now I have a full squad. There's competition, which only makes you stronger."

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GALAXY

TODAY vs. Kansas City, 7:30 p.m., Home Depot Center.

TV: none.