Is Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s England career over or ready for a fresh start?
For years we have heard and seen how Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can’t play together, and in major tournaments they have been found wanting as a pairing.
At Euro 2012 it was surely no coincidence that Gerrard excelled without Lampard by his side.
The Liverpool man was overall England’s best player, leading by example as a captain, and creating goals in each of the nation’s three group games.
Yet as Scott Parker was taken off with the game moving into its latter stages, England’s lack of midfield depth was woefully exposed as Roy Hodgson sent for Jordan Henderson – a man who summed up the lack of depth in the squad.
There can’t be a reasonable football fan around that would not have rather seen Frank Lampard called onto the pitch instead.
The Chelsea man’s injury was seen by some fans as a good thing. Since 2006 Lampard has enjoyed a mixed reputation with England supporters, a tournament in which he went into with high hopes and failed to deliver.
His injury did indeed allow the Parker-Gerrard axis to flourish, but at least if he had been there the pairing could have had more rest. By the end of 90 minutes both looked exhausted and Parker was taken off.
Lampard wasn’t the only England midfielder missing from the bench, Jack Wilshere was the man the nation had such high hopes for this tournament – but injury meant he didn’t kick a ball in anger all season.
Carrick was another who should have been in the squad, and Hodgson got that call wrong.
One decision Hodgson will have to make going forward is whether Frank Lampard has a future with England. Ideally, at 34, now is the time to phase him out and bring in fresh midfield blood.
He will be 36 by time Brazil 2014 comes around, and it would be very much a surprise if he were to start the tournament proper, but he may have a role in getting the team there.
Yet England’s cast of young midfield talent clearly is not quite ready to start being so ruthless. Wilshere is recovering from injury, United’s Tom Cleverley also has to start again after an injury-hit season, and Henderson simply isn’t ready.
England’s World Cup qualifying group games begin this Autumn against Poland, Ukraine, Montenegro, Moldova and San Marino, a group Hodgson’s men should hope to win, but is fraught with tricky away ties.
Lampard’s experience may just come in vital, and England can’t afford defeats early on or they will find themselves under pressure and on the back foot.
Gerrard, 32, and Parker, 31, too are no spring chickens, and on the road to the World Cup England will hope the youngsters can step up and prove themselves.
In the mean time, don’t be surprised if Hodgson recalls Lampard, England’s forgotten man back into the squad at the first possible opportunity.
Would you bring Lampard back for qualifying or is it time to move on?
image: © Ben Sutherland
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