Azrael wrotei think Gerrard would be as important to England as he is to Liverpool.as for playing beckham in the middle, he doesn't run or help out at the back like Gerrard does.
I can see Beckham working as a defensive midfielder, but that would really negate his main purpose, ie to cross from the right wing. And let's face it, that's how we get most of our goals. I can't see Lennon making an impact against a really top side, and we can't afford to have anyone but Beckham in that position. As someone wrote in the Guardian- there seems to be a lot of people saying "hey, Lennon looked great against Bolton and Belarus B... He's going to murder Roberto Carlos". Without Gerrard I would either use Carrick or Hargreaves, or alternatively put Cole into the middle and use Downing on the left. But I wouldn't fancy using any of those options.