Gerrard frank about England chances
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Article summary
As England take on Uruguay, Steven Gerrard tells uefa.com that he and Frank Lampard can forge a trophy-winning partnership in Germany.
Article body
As England take on Uruguay in their final friendly before their squad for the FIFA World Cup is named, Steven Gerrard is hungry for success.
Sensational campaign
The Liverpool FC midfielder enjoyed a sensational campaign last year, winning the UEFA Champions League with his club and being picked in the uefa.com users' Team of 2005, but the prospect of World Cup football this summer is keeping the 25-year-old focused on 2006. Gerrard missed the 2002 tournament in Korea/Japan through injury and is desperate for a chance to shine in Germany. "Every player dreams of playing in the World Cup," he told uefa.com. "That's the stage where you want to impress and want to be successful individually and as a team. If I play well in the World Cup and the team achieve success, it will be a dream come true."
Uruguay match
Tonight's game will give England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson the opportunity to look at some of his fringe players before announcing his provisional squad. However, Gerrard's name has long been etched into the Swede's plans. He will most likely be paired with Frank Lampard at the heart of the English midfield in Germany, although the Chelsea FC star is ruled out of the Uruguay match at Anfield. The two men are the engines of their respective clubs and regular goalscorers, but some have argued that they are incompatible when playing together.
'It's rubbish'
The Liverpool captain could not object to that statement more. "It's rubbish, I disagree," he said. "We're two good players who play at the highest level. Why can't we make it work? People haven't given us time, making opinions too soon. Give us time to play with each other and judge us after the World Cup. We may need to alter the way we play a little, but we'll get it right." With England yet to add to the solitary World Cup they won on home soil in 1966, despite decades of raised expectations, many will hope that a central partnership of Gerrard and Lampard can provide the impetus to give the departing Eriksson a truly grand send-off.
'All the way'
Gerrard, for one, believes England are capable of lifting the trophy. "We've got a very good chance because we've got world-class players and a good squad, but we need everything to go our way," he said. "We need to keep everyone fit. We need a bit of luck. If things like that go our way, we can go all the way."
