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

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  1. John c; Lampard has got a bigfatarse ( admittally for a­ footballer ), he is arrogant but most of all is that he­ is @#$% for england. BIG FAT FRANKIE LAMPARD.

    From Kevin, on Wed 8 Oct 9:40AM

  2. At least the door is open for Fat Frank to return to­ West Ham. Now they have had the XL removed from their­ shirts he can use his XXXL one lol !!

    From razorafc, on Wed 8 Oct 9:35AM

  3. Most of these comments are from the sick society that­ we now have to put up with from uneducated cretins.To­ say that Lampard is a fat so & so just prooves­ it.Why can't we all get behind the team it's­ whats needed.

    From john, on Wed 8 Oct 9:02AM

  4. I new this would happen under Cappello sooner or later­ and i totaly agree with the decision to give them­ another chance, in the past they haven't worked but­ under a new manager there is reason to give it another­ chance! Its hard to have 2 world class midfielders 2 of­ the best in the world for their club, and not try and­ find a way for them to work together for the better of­ the team. Cappello should give them another chance and­ try and make them complement each other instead of them­ draining each others talents as they have done in the­ past. I think it will soon work and England will be­ laughing all the way! Comon England Block 102 mint­ seats can't wait

    From Richard, on Wed 8 Oct 8:55AM

  5. "Lampard admits poor England form" Wake up­ everyone they are ALL @#$% thats why they failed to­ qualify!!!!

    From Tony K, on Wed 8 Oct 7:49AM

  6. Why do people think they can comment about­ international & domestic football when they­ can't spell(never mind kick a ball)?

    From dannydaytenerife, on Wed 8 Oct 7:08AM

  7. its good what you say
    and its true

    From yoabh, on Wed 8 Oct 6:57AM

  8. hay

    From yoabh, on Wed 8 Oct 6:56AM

  9. Stevie G is by far a better player than Lampard.­ Critics say his engalnd form is nowhere near his club­ form true, but what Central midfieflder will play well­ when played in a left or right midfield position and in­ the past even at right back? Bottom line is frank has­ not delivered anything close to his club form even when­ given his prefered centre mid slot.

    From Dicehk, on Wed 8 Oct 6:35AM

  10. Gerrard is a brilliant player as is Frank. I dont like­ the way Frank plays thou. when Playing for club Gerrard­ Is A machine he is by far top 3 mid fielders in the­ world, when he plays for England, he does not play with­ the same type of ergency. This makes him drop down to­ average, like the rest of them. 1 Is going to go.

    From Liverpool1!!, on Wed 8 Oct 5:27AM

  11. Not interested in England, Club football much more­ better, so who cares what pie man lamps has to say, and­ why has he brought gerrard into the interview, gerrard­ is by far superior for club and country

    From stearcher69, on Wed 8 Oct 4:34AM

  12. Lampard is implying the mid-field will be too crowded­ with he and Gerrard playing at the same time, and is­ willing to work with Cappello to work in a system.­ Sadly, as great as Lamps and Gerrard are, their­ contribution for England may be coming to an end (at­ least one of them). As for all you Lampard and Gerrard­ bashers out there: PUHLEEZE!!!!! these guys are the­ best mid-fielders playing, which "club"­ manager would not want them in their starting eleven?

    From starman_123, on Wed 8 Oct 2:50AM

  13. This combination won't work. Gerard was not­ involved in the last 2 wins so i think he should be on­ the bench..

    From Half A Brain, on Wed 8 Oct 1:51AM

  14. think its about time to get a new 1st team as the ones­ we have are failures

    From andrew, on Wed 8 Oct 1:27AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    lampard? YOR FAT BA****rd
    YOR FAT BA****rd
    YOR FAT­ BA****rd
    YOR FAT BA****rd
    YOR FAT BA****rd
    YOR FAT­ BA****rd

    From MUFCareligion, on Wed 8 Oct 1:05AM

  16. Oh Gosh sounds like an excuse before a ball is kicked!­ i love my country with passion but I can't perform­ as I do at club level so don't expect me too? My­ suggestion stay at home and leave it on the shoulders­ of the younger more passionate players that actually­ want to play for their COUNTRY. If you cant stand the­ heat get thew hell out of our kitchen

    From Mitchel, on Wed 8 Oct 12:59AM

  17. Oh Gosh sounds like an excuse before a ball is kicked!­ i love my country with passion but I can't perform­ as I do at club level so don't expect me too? My­ suggestion stay at home and leave it on the shoulders­ of the younger more passionate players that actually­ want to play for their COUNTRY. If you cant stand the­ heat get thew hell out of our kitchen

    From Mitchel, on Wed 8 Oct 12:59AM

  18. come on i LOVE ENGLAND WITH AL MY HEART BUT can anyone­ see lampard and gerrard holding back while walcott,­ cole, rooney and heskey go forward?????? they try pot­ shots from 40 yards in final seconds hoping to repeat­ the beckam goal against greece,,,as a team u dont play­ to be individual star ya play for team and thats why i­ cannot see them both together,,, you can only play one­ attacking central midfield player and not say if one­ goes forward the other stays back,,,these 2 dont know­ how that works as holding midfielder,,, i think both­ are great for their clubs but for england i have to say­ on song lampard has most vision and pass accuracy,,­ gerrard i seem to see shoot for england like he god,,,­ why do we never see the passing movement our forwards­ have the ability to play???? we are GOOD enough, cole,­ rooney, walcott and who plays the forward role,,, give­ the real footballers with skill a chance,,

    From DAVID, on Wed 8 Oct 12:20AM

  19. sapper why dont u take their place

    From edward, on Wed 8 Oct 12:07AM

  20. u5e57

    From edward, on Wed 8 Oct 12:07AM
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