Int Football - Gerrard and Lampard out for England

Eurosport - Tue, 18 Nov 09:04:00 2008

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have been ruled out of England's friendly clash with Germany on Wednesday.

FOOTBALL 2008 England Frank Lampard Steven Gerrard - 0

Liverpool skipper Gerrard had been withdrawn from contention by his club after picking up a groin injury against Bolton on Saturday.

Nevertheless, England coach Fabio Capello ordered the midfielder to report for duty at the national side's Hertfordshire training base on Sunday evening.

Having since confirmed that the Liverpool medical staff's diagnosis was indeed correct, Gerrard has been allowed to return to Merseyside to recuperate.

Lampard sustained a rib injury during Chelsea's game with West Brom at the weekend and scans showed he would not be fit enough to feature at the Olympic Stadium.

An FA statement confirmed: "Both were scanned this morning and have now been sent back to their clubs for further treatment."

Capello wasted no time in finding replacements for the midfield duo with Fulham's Jimmy Bullard and West Ham's Scott Parker called into the squad.

The pair's withdrawal has left Capello with just three of his first choice team available for England's first game in the German capital since 1972.

The Italian was already without Manchester United trio Wesley Brown, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, Chelsea pair Ashley and Joe Cole, and Wigan striker Emile Heskey.

Joe Hart also pulled out of the squad after sustaining an ankle injury over the weekend, with Blackburn's Paul Robinson called up to replace the Manchester City goalkeeper.

But captain John Terry, who was doubtful with a foot complaint after the weekend, completed a full training session and is in contention to lead England out in Berlin.

Considering the game comes in the middle of a busy domestic schedule, the pull-outs have raised the inevitable club versus country question.

But midfielder Michael Carrick insisted the fixture still holds importance.

"I'm playing for England and this is the stuff of dreams," Carrick, the only Mancehster United player in the squad, said.

"Germany versus England is a massive game and I've always dreamed to be part of one day. It's not a hindrance at all. I'm here and I want to play.

"The club versus country thing always pops up but as players we don't get involved in that. We want to be part of the England team. Germany versus England in Berlin is huge and we want to be part of that."

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 43 - 62 of 62

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  1. England is a highly talented group of strangers, their­ primary concern being keeping their first team places­ in their respective clubs. Sure they want to play for­ England but they simply don't want to risk­ unnnecessary injury or fatigue in a game that not part­ of a wider competition, especially with big club­ fixtures approaching. Until the FA get their act­ together and start reducing the number of domestic­ games teams have to play, this problem will continue.

    From mongolfcfan, on Wed 19 Nov 5:12AM

  2. Support england!!!!

    From Anastasia T, on Wed 19 Nov 3:56AM

  3. If players don't want to play for England then they­ should say so: I quit playing internationals, and Mr­ Capello please do not pick me in future as want to­ concentrate my career at club level.

    From starman_123, on Wed 19 Nov 1:41AM

  4. Friendlies do matter. Firstly, it gives continuity to­ the team, gives an opportunity for players such as­ Gerrard and Lampard to learn to play together. Secondly­ gives the manager an assessment of players and system­ and to try new players and system. Lastly but most­ important the FIFA ranking are affected, the more games­ you win the better seeding you have when it comes to­ competition. I'm sick of seeing England loosing to­ lesser teams because because English Superstars could­ play as a TEAM.

    From starman_123, on Wed 19 Nov 1:27AM

  5. Fabio Capello 100% correct in second guessing Liverpool­ and Chelsea. Funny how the only managers that­ complaining about Friendlies are not English:­ O'neill, Wenger, Benitez, and Ferguson

    From starman_123, on Wed 19 Nov 1:24AM

  6. Many regulars injured Coincidental? Shameful

    From starman_123, on Wed 19 Nov 1:21AM

  7. Es muss sehr traurig ein Englaender zu sein an den­ abend vor die Englische Pub XI die Deutsche Fussball­ manschaft spielen, so total hofnungs loss zu sein kann­ ich kaum fasssen :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Wed 19 Nov 12:24AM

  8. Give them all lie detector tests and anal probes to see­ what they are hiding.
    Get Capello bent over,it will be­ good preparation,for what is going to happen to­ him,when he starts losing.

    From e=mc squared, on Tue 18 Nov 9:03AM

  9. Why don't they det Lampard to have an independant­ medical to see if Chelsea are lying also ?

    From Philip, on Tue 18 Nov 8:43AM

  10. I hate the English fottball team and all the hype,the­ manager's,the losers,the whinging,the­ under-performing,the repetetiveness of it all,the­ nausea,the rhetoric,the boring nature of it,people like­ Steve Mclaren,the juvenile press,the opinionated­ fans,the arrogance,
    puke....vomit.....be rid of it.

    From e=mc squared, on Tue 18 Nov 8:26AM

  11. it's always a great game whoever wins, personally I­ will be supporting germany as well .. I am half german.­ Both coaches should use this match to throw the younger­ players in at the deep end whilst obviously trying to­ win lol so in a way either team could win but both­ teams will come out on top for giving the next­ generation a game and helping them chose the players­ for the remaining qualifiers

    From ben h, on Tue 18 Nov 8:12AM

  12. I think I'll stop supporting English teams after­ all this debacle. Club Teams are English in name only,­ so not supporting England is absolutely rtidiculous for­ an English person and, as for the players it is­ criminal of them to sham injuries so as to get out from­ playing for the national team. Shame, shame and more­ shame

    From joe scribe, on Tue 18 Nov 8:09AM

  13. lets not crumble about the germany v england match its­ only a friendly so a good time to use the younger­ inexperienced players who have something to prove never­ know they could spring a suprise and beat germany. and­ stop taken pops at lampard and gerrard they were sent­ back to there clubs for treatment so hopefully be fit­ enough for there clubs at weekend that is not a bad­ thing its a good thing as it gives scott parker a­ chance to show his talent on the big stage as all the­ other players that have been called up to cover for the­ other injured players who could also be fit to play for­ there clubs at the weekend so its not just lampard and­ gerrard

    From Andy B, on Tue 18 Nov 7:59AM

  14. Funny

    From Amelia J, on Tue 18 Nov 6:52AM

  15. GERMANY ALL THE WAY AROUND!!!! see not everyone in the­ world would support the german clubs.(but i still do)­ but loots of ppl love the german national team(like­ me)... becuz the way they show love 2 der national team­ is just great ... in euro 2008 ballack way playin wif a­ broken head .. so wer the other playerz ...

    From Omid ext, on Tue 18 Nov 6:26AM

  16. i think capello-san must use the energy from THEO­ WALCOTT...
    viva La ARSENAL...!!!!

    From skanation_002000, on Tue 18 Nov 6:21AM

  17. i think its time to call Neville back!?!!

    From yash, on Tue 18 Nov 5:56AM

  18. i think it will be adraw b'cause both team are­ equally strong............

    From Arif, on Tue 18 Nov 5:26AM

  19. 1-5

    From nicholasbnjmn, on Tue 18 Nov 4:56AM

  20. Why play for england when the best chance of glory for­ the english comes with club trophies? fact is that both­ players and fans now care more about club success that­ national victory. Don't blame the players; blame­ the increasing pressure of club owners and fans for the­ english big 4 to be successful on the international­ stage. Don't players have enough to do competing in­ 4 club tournaments? The English can't have­ everything. Fans should choose: club or country.­ can't do them both!

    From mongolfcfan, on Tue 18 Nov 12:24AM
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