Frank Lampard set to prove a point with 100th cap for England
Frank Lampard of England and Steven Gerrard of England in action during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifying Group H match between England and Moldova at Wembley Stadium on September 6, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Although England travel to Ukraine without the suspended Danny Welbeck and the injured Daniel Sturridge, there is some cause for positivity amidst their ranks. When they line up against Ukraine on Tuesday, Frank Lampard looks set to become only the eighth Englishman to receive his 100th cap. With 29 goals till date, he only needs another goal to go level with legends such as Alan Shearer, Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney as the joint sixth highest scoring English player. He will also join the likes of Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole as other members of the current squad to have reached that milestone in the past year.
With the constant chopping and changing of managers and the turbulent setting of the modern international footballing landscape, especially England, it should be seen as quite an achievement that Lampard is able to reach that landmark without too much fuss. After all, he has had his fair share of critic’s right from the very beginning. There were those that called him “Fat Frank” and questioned his ability to play together with Steven Gerrard, a similar type of player.
But, Lampard has endured that all and is still going strong. And his assist for Gerrard’s first international goal in three years, against Moldova, showed that although a lot has been said in the media about the two of them not being able to play together, it doesn’t seem to affect the way they enjoy each others’ company. After the game, Gerrard said that he and Lampard “enjoy playing together” and added that it is “always nice to win and be on the same team.”
After yet another good year at Chelsea, there were reports that he might go the route of David Beckham and head to Los Angeles, what with their public courting of the Chelsea star. And, with Chelsea not offering him a contract and with the World Cup almost there, one would have been forgiven for thinking that the lure of regular first-team football might yet have led him to LA. But Gerrard, for one, is happy that Lampard decided to stay in England and added that, “he was too good for LA Galaxy” and that “he made the right choice” by staying at Chelsea.
Gerrard still believes that Lampard “has a lot to offer in the Premier League — and certainly for England”. With the arrival of Mourinho at Chelsea, who certainly believes the same, Lampard was given a fresh contract, and although his move to LA didn’t come to fruition, one has to wonder if that would have been the right thing.
After all, there is no surety that Roy Hodgson would have had the patience to go out to USA every time to watch his star in action, like his predecessors did with David Beckham. Hodgson certainly has faith in the 35-year-old and has said that when Lampard does get his 100th cap, “it will be a red letter day not just for him but for England and all the people who’ve watched him”.
In many ways, Lampard has defied belief and like a fine wine, only become better with age. Having reinvented his game to suit his style, if England qualify for the World Cup, no one needs to worry about him being up to the task any more.