World Cup qual. - Lampard on life under Capello

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Sep 17:30:00 2008

Ahead of England's opening World Cup qualifier against Andorra, Frank Lampard discusses life under Fabio Capello and his own England future.

Frank Lampard - 0

How does the new international regime under Fabio Capello compare to the last?

He certainly has the kind of personality that is good for England. Fabio Capello is like Jose Mourinho in that he has an aura, something special which marks him out against other coaches. He has won at the very highest level and you can compare him to Mourinho in that sense. He's such a big name and brings charisma and a sense of leadership to the job.

He's talked about restoring confidence among the players. Do you see any signs of this happening?

He is a fantastic man-manager. It excites me that the manager is very tactically aware and that is something that we are used to at Chelsea. He has a reputation of being a strict disciplinarian and I think that can only be good. A lot has been said that the team is undisciplined and now we're going to get kicked into shape but it's not like that at all. If you're an England player - and we have top players here - then you enjoy discipline and you just want to win.

Who are the biggest threats to England in the World Cup qualifying group?

Croatia, it goes without saying, are a good team. But whatever the opposition I think it is fair to say that if we perform to our best we will go through the group. We have to make absolutely sure we are 100 per cent for every game.

Having been beaten twice by Croatia during the Euro 2008 qualification, how should England approach them this time?

We have to think of only one thing - winning.

Do you think England are favourites to qualify?

I think if we perform anything like our best we will get through the group, but no qualifying group is ever easy and this one is certainly going to be tough. We have to play to our strengths and get through the group.

Do you still enjoy playing for England and why?

Of course. Wearing the England shirt is without doubt the proudest moment in your career. Nothing beats playing for your country. We have not been helped by the negative feeling, which has emerged from the fans. I've been booed personally and the whole team got booed during the Croatia game. You can understand the frustration of the fans but it doesn't help.

Would you ever retire from international football to extend your club career, like Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher?

I've not really thought about it. I don't think so, but all players have a right to choose their own options.

Frank Lampard was talking exclusively to BT Vision's On magazine

BT Vision / Eurosport

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  1. LAMPARD is the world's best player. He is someone who understand others and has lots of respect for other players either playing for Chelsea or other teams. He certainly deserves the best midfield award and chelsea has certainly seen something especially in him thats y they have done everything so that he can end his career at chelsea. One thing that many of you don't see is that while playing for England, Lampard always make good pass to other players but england players such as Barry and Gerrard do not like to pass the ball to Lampard. They prefer to take the ball and try to score eventhough that they know they won't be able.They are afraid because they know that Lampard will do better than them so they don't give himthe ball.And all those who always criticise Lampard, its better to stop because u r certainly not better than him. Lampard is a world class player and will always remain a World Class Player.Those who criticise him don't know the talent and value of such players.very sorry and sad for them.
    BEST OF LUCK TO YOU FRANK LAMPARD, and show others that you are simply the BEST!

    From , on Tue 9 Sep 11:08AM

  2. you got it wrong tugnait, Capello can only pic players that are fit, that leaves out Gerrard and Carrick, but if you are going to pick a future team then you need to include Hargreaves. Also before the year is out you will see Agbonlahor playing upfront with Rooney. But the team most likely to start against Croatia. Defenders: James (gk), Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole. Mid-field: Lampard, Barry, J.Cole(lw), Walcott(rw). Forwards: Rooney and Heskey.

    But the team for the future:
    James (Hart)
    A Cole (Bridge)
    Johnson (Richards)
    Terry, Ferdinand (Woodgate, King, Wheatley, Upson, Carragher)
    Hargreaves(Carrick, Jeanas, Huddlestone)
    Gerrard (Lampard, Barry)
    Walcott (Bentley, Lennon)
    J Cole ( A Young, Wright-Phillips)
    Agbonlahor( Milner)
    Rooney

    From starman_123, on Mon 8 Sep 4:46AM

  3. capello needs to play people with more experience and put the youtuh on the bench
    james
    johnson
    ferdinand
    terry
    a.cole
    gerrard
    lampard
    bar ry
    j.cole
    rooney
    defoe

    subs
    beckham
    green
    heskey
    owen
    carrick
    ashton
    downing

    From RAJESH, on Sun 7 Sep 7:35PM

  4. Any of you guys out there who talk trash about foreigners coming into the English game and ruining it got anything to say about the fact that you have a foreign coach for YOUR NATIONAL SIDE? Ha ha ha But good luck.

    From buda, on Sat 6 Sep 12:57PM

  5. Ashton & Rooney up front (Owen and Dafoe on the bench), J.Cole, Gerrard, Hargreaves & Barry in midfield (Ledley King, Carrick, Bullard and Bentley on the bench) right back Micah Richards, Ferdinand and Terry (Woodgate)central, left back Wayne Bridge (A Cole and W Brown on the bench), Green in goal (James covering). Sounds good? Check out how many of those came up through West ham's academy and that doesn't even include Lamps. Establish a 4-4-1-1 system and stick to it, choosing players who can fit in to that and are showing form, ignore reputations. A few wins and they'd soon show confidence and form. If only they weren't so fragile when they get a call up - could it be club is more important than country? Surely not! Finally, see how many Brits Man City invest in, given the choice.

    From paulwmoses, on Fri 5 Sep 11:28PM

  6. post 26 that is... I can't count either...

    From m.git09, on Fri 5 Sep 5:58PM

  7. Great comment from the Undertaker (post 2). Your strategy will definitely lead to greatness... midfield of Lampard, Gerrard, Cole, Bentley (who you perhaps rightly say should start ahead of Beckham) behind Rooney and AN Other up front. Hargreaves in the holding role, presumably in front of a back 4 and what do you get?!?!??

    12 players on the pitch.......

    From m.git09, on Fri 5 Sep 5:53PM

  8. What does the 'C' stand for after Tom. I thought Ronaldo was a winger, and whose Ronny.
    You must be either a scouser, geordie or a thick @#$% from ManU

    From Terence P, on Fri 5 Sep 5:44PM

  9. Great Rant,terrible spelling,must be a Man U Fan.
    From andy.lloyd, on Fri 5 Sep 1:49PM

    Great spelling,$#|^ slagging,must be a Brummie supporter

    From Jay Walsh, on Fri 5 Sep 5:38PM

  10. Capello just hasn't worked out how to play Lampard and Gerrard on the same pitch. Believe me, they can play together. They lead from the front for their clubs, and can do the same for their country. With Hargreaves in holding midfield, and Lampard, Gerrard and Joe Cole going forward in support of Wayne Rooney and whoever hsi strike partner will be (Owen/Crouch/Defoe/Heskey), England will be unstoppable!

    Just axe Beckham. Clearly past his best. It's time he made way for Bentley.

    Cap's just got to figure out how to play them all together. Joachim Low might not have as impressive a CV as Capello, but Fabio could learn a thing or to from him about how to make superstars at club level play as a potent team.

    From The Undertaker (RIP), on Fri 5 Sep 5:05PM

  11. That is so silly to compare Cameroon with England. why are we making such comparison and why not with other European teams. So disappointing and I can only take it as a racial thing. Please let us be more thoughtful when making such comparisons.

    From jonas, on Fri 5 Sep 4:55PM

  12. Come on guys and girls lets give the man a brake. The reason Frank Lampard had never played very well for England is very simple. He just is'nt very good.

    Surround him with great team mates and give him week opposition and he will shine.

    Surround him with mediocre team mates and give him world class opposition and he will vanish.

    Frank will never play well at international level or Champions League level because he is only slightly better than mediocrity.

    So therefore lets not knock him for his lack of ability. Lets judge him on his endeavour and efford for the cause.

    Yep.... he's @#$%

    From dan_sygrove, on Fri 5 Sep 4:49PM

  13. Well said trouble its a disgrace that our FAhas sold the fans down the river again over tv coverage. They have shown total disregard for all us working public who wat to watch their NATIONAL SPORT its about time the money grabbing old tosse*** were all thrown out. Let,s face it they are hardly doing a decent job. I agree lets all boycott putting money into their fat pockets and perhaps go watch cy\cling or rowing where our competitors show a pride in representing their country

    From robandjac@..., on Fri 5 Sep 4:19PM

  14. @ Mike H - getting very defensive aren't you! i'm not saying he didn't deserve to be picked i actually believe he should have been given more of a chance, but like i said i will not show any respect to a player who turns his back on his country because one manager wouldn't pick him, for all anyone knows Capello might have picked him ahead of Terry. You don't see Rob Green or Jimmy Bullard and many other players who deserve to play for their country sulking just because they get over looked! he's like the typical kid down the park 'i'm taking my ball and going home!' i'm afraid HE is the prat!

    From wookiee11, on Fri 5 Sep 4:06PM

  15. Frank Lampard?? Do me a favour. Total waste of space in a white shirt

    From come_on_the_wednesday, on Fri 5 Sep 3:32PM

  16. England are rubbish , except it ,get used to it ,we are behind Cameroon in world rankings ,that says it all ,Capello is far from the best manager ,and with all the rest of the teams in the world mediocre at the moment we are still @#$% ,we should have a much better national team with the money thats awash in the English game

    From captain sensible, on Fri 5 Sep 3:10PM

  17. qualification for the 2010 world cup shall be easy for England,but the highest they can go in the tournament itself is last eight.England can never go beyound that.
    this the line up for the last eight.
    1.argentina 2,brazil, 3.germany 4. Nigeria 5.spain 6.ghana 7.portugal 8.england

    From kweku_sticky, on Fri 5 Sep 3:07PM

  18. "I think if we perform anything like our best we will get through the group" -

    Im sorry to say that I don't think it can get any better than it is now.
    No passion from players and fans alike - its hard to get excited about a team that
    doesn't seem to give a damn and a crowd that are still ranting along to the most annoying trumpet solo ever invented. Everything about England feels fake.

    No one can blame Jamie Carragher for putting his club first - he's a true professional and knows he is appreciated at Anfield - thats the difference.

    From Anthony, on Fri 5 Sep 2:39PM

  19. Who gives a @#$%? If I can't watch England games on free tv, the FA can stick their team up their ars.s. You should all just rebel for god sake. Haven't you got any guts at all. Kick the FA where it hurts most and just ignore everything about England, do not under any circumstances pay to go to wembley, because after you pay stupid amounts to watch them there, you have to pay again to watch them on tv. And you are letting the FA get away with robbing you of a right, the right to watch your country play on tv for free

    From trouble, on Fri 5 Sep 2:04PM

  20. Great Rant,terrible spelling,must be a Man U Fan.

    From andy.lloyd@..., on Fri 5 Sep 1:49PM
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