World Cup qual. - Lampard admits poor form

Eurosport - Wed, 08 Oct 10:11:00 2008

Frank Lampard has admitted that he and Steven Gerrard have failed to reproduce their club form when playing for England, particularly when they are in the same team.

FOOTBALL England Steven Gerrard Frank Lampard - 0

The inability of the two world-class midfielders to gel when playing for their country has long been a source of frustration for the fans and a succession of managers.

"If we are both honest - and Stevie is a very honest man - we both haven't played as well for England as we have for our clubs particularly over the last two seasons," Lampard said ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Wembley.

"I think if we had done we probably would have qualified for the Euros.

"That's the case whether we've played together or separately. We have to try and make it work if we're asked to play together and we have to stop worrying about individual players.

"What we need to do now is to look at the team."

Gerrard missed last month's 4-1 victory in Croatia through injury, and Lampard played well in a deeper role than usual.

The Liverpool man recently complained he hardly ever played in an attacking midfield role for England, and now he is available again coach Fabio Capello has some decisions to make.

"I think it's pretty obvious when you play with Theo Walcott, Joe Cole and two strikers and you go to a place like Croatia where they can knock the ball about, if you leave Gareth Barry on his own in midfield you are going to get exposed," Lampard added.

"Maybe we're in a better environment for it to improve now. There is a lot more emphasis on the tactical work now. In the past we probably did just discuss it in the dressing room and say if one sees the other go, he stays back.

"In a lot of games now the midfield is overloaded and you can't just leave one player on his own. But there's no better environment to learn than with Capello and the way we are working now.

"I'd like to think it can work. We both care passionately about playing for our country and we both want to play well for our country."

Reuters

Comment 22 - 41 of 81

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  1. its about results and two people dont make a team. also mclaren and his stewart downing obsessions are finally over so that puts us in a better place anyway!!

    From bigdikky5, on Wed 8 Oct 1:19PM

  2. Its all about teamwork & commitments which is lacking. All medias should promote these aspects than puting their forcus on some leading individuals in the team and boasting about them- which will give nothing but high expectations among the public!!!!!!!!!!

    From dukepara, on Wed 8 Oct 1:19PM

  3. Its time to forget about not qualifying for Euro 2008 and start conentrating on qualifying for the world cup. Give us football fans someont to support over the summer 2010 it wasnt the same without England there

    From John, on Wed 8 Oct 1:17PM

  4. Whitesurf - while i agree that the media hype things up and are always very loose with the truth in order to sell, i think you've got a bit carried away by suggesting players like Rooney Lampard and Gerrard arn't world class. Think about it.

    Gerrard and Lampard play brilliantly in the same position, and play well when out of position. So they should be judged on current form and at the moment, no matter how much i despise 'we buy success, not earn it' Chelski, Lampard is playing the best football of his career so far and has to be picked.

    From Dominic, on Wed 8 Oct 1:15PM

  5. why didnt he say this after not qualifying

    From r.r.d, on Wed 8 Oct 1:13PM

  6. i hope yhe kazaks gub ya

    From jack m, on Wed 8 Oct 1:12PM

  7. There's no way anyone can call Lamps s**t. Granted he doesn't do it for England but who does?????? He guarantees 20 goals a season, in the greatest league in the World, and if I'm not mistaken there's only one other who matches that....Ronaldo who many believe is the best in the World. Just on that, surely he must be a key part in the England 1st team.

    From Christopher, on Wed 8 Oct 1:10PM

  8. SMJ,KUGL,YDMGXGJ,

    From rugirasolomon, on Wed 8 Oct 1:07PM

  9. Blame me!!! Ha Ha !!

    They don't give a @#$% about England , the fans or the Club....if they only got paid £200 a week , then they might care.

    From eric m, on Wed 8 Oct 1:06PM

  10. Gerrard and Lampard can talk all they want about not been able to work together but the fact remains that too many of the England players are just not good enough. We have some good players but how many world class players? I'm not sure. I would not put Gerrard, Rooney or Lampard up there with Kaka, Messi or Torres. These players have the true world class status. England are an average team that gets carried away by all the media rubbish that they are world beaters. I would keep the team that won the last game...simple as that. Let these over-paid idiots fight for the England shirt and maybe there will be some improvement!

    From whitesurf36, on Wed 8 Oct 1:00PM

  11. The difference between success & failure is a very fine line... Hopefully we are the right side of that line now, after a great performance in Croatia... Let's keep it that way!!! The player's aren't **** as some comments would have us believe; they're great, & the best we've got !! What they need is a bit of confidence from a few good results to show the fab football they're ALL capable of...!! Go for it guys!!!

    From Moses, on Wed 8 Oct 1:00PM

  12. It's just football!
    Who gives a @#$%?

    From JOHN, on Wed 8 Oct 12:59PM

  13. well thats the case mr Lampard, and you both feel that it was your faults that we didn't qualify for euro 2008 then you both should have been fine four years wages! you greedy @#$%!!

    From Ali, on Wed 8 Oct 12:58PM

  14. As everybody knows Frank is the best mid-filder in the World. so please dont write rubbish comments. Frank is the best player for his club and his coutry.

    From awet, on Wed 8 Oct 12:57PM

  15. DO AS GOOD AS U CAN!!!
    DO AGAIN THIS Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Wembley!!!

    From KIN, on Wed 8 Oct 12:54PM

  16. "Steve Gerrard Gerrard he's better than Frank Lampard, he scores from 40 yard Steve Gerrard Gerrard"

    From PETE L, on Wed 8 Oct 12:53PM

  17. No surprise to anyone who watched them in the last couple of years that Frank Lampard thought he deserved his England shirt not that he should have EARNED his shirt.

    From Jake, on Wed 8 Oct 12:53PM

  18. Lampshit just needs to shut the @#$% up!!! Yesterday he's saying 'its not just me and gerrard, everyone needs to pitch in' already ready to use someone else as a scapegoat incase he's @#$% AGAIN!! He talks too much @#$%, I @#$% hoope Capello drops him and plays Gerrard and Barry. It's a joke how people think he's some great footballer, he's @#$% @#$% didn't do jack @#$% against Croatia, and now he's already scared to play kazhak!!! Whatta @#$%!

    From Day, on Wed 8 Oct 12:50PM

  19. I belief Fabio would eventually find the missing key to unlock the mid field problem in England.

    I belief Gerrard loves to sit in the midfield more and Frankie prefers to support the attack this does not mean Steven cannot make his occassional runs upfront while either Barry or Hargraeves sit as an holding role mid fielder like the Makelele roles for Chelsea and France and over time I feel this might be the key needed to place England where they ought to be.

    From adebisi, on Wed 8 Oct 10:41AM

  20. England being my best clud I would'nt want it going messing like please what ever the case just resolve it and do your best in this season and give record in the world you are going from bad to worse not qualifying what is the meaning of this please Gerrad,you are my best player in Liverpool, so I would not like you to break the record out.

    From adis_victor, on Wed 8 Oct 9:59AM
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