Sunday, October 08, 2006
Lamps: England can shine in Croatia
Steve McClaren's side dropped their first points of the campaign when they were held to a shock goalless draw by minnows Macedonia at Old Trafford on Saturday.
It has raised the stakes against the Croatians, who have not lost a competitive game in Zagreb since gaining their independence 16 years ago - but were beaten there by France in a friendly international in 2000.
But Lampard, who won his first cap seven years ago against Belgium at the Stadium Of Light, is urging England to stand up and be counted when they confront what is likely to be a hostile atmosphere.
The Chelsea midfielder said: "Wednesday is potentially the hardest game in the group although Russia and Israel away will also be difficult.
"Croatia will test us. We have got to stand up on Wednesday to a hostile crowd, a good technical side and show what we are made of as a team. We've got to stand up and be counted.
"They always produce players from a young age who are technically good players and they have always got a bit of an edge to them. They are determined and will be desperate to beat England.
"They are tactically a clever team as well. I watched them in the World Cup and they gave Brazil a really tough game. That's the sort of players they have got.
"But I scored my first England goal against Croatia and also scored against them in Euro 2004. They are nice memories.
"It will be a nice time on Wednesday to get another one especially with it being my 50th cap."
Lampard admitted: "It seems a long time ago since I won my first cap in Sunderland.
"I then went out of the team. I was in the wilderness for a couple of years after that but I've come back.
"To get to 50 caps will mean a lot. It is a milestone. Stevie G (Steven Gerrard) got there recently and it is something I've always wanted to do.
"I'm very proud. A lot of big names have got to that milestone and I want to get there and then push on.
"It will be a nice feeling for me before the game and when walking out. But when you go on the pitch, you just concentrate on the game."
Lampard dismissed the suggestion that England should cruise through to the Euro 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria and insisted Macedonia should be taken seriously as a footballing nation.
He said: "People who said it was an easy group weren't looking properly at the group.
"Like I said, you can't underestimate Croatia, Russia and Israel - and also Macedonia as we have seen from the way they performed against us.
"They have all got talented players and it was never going to be a group where you are going to breeze through and win every game and come top.
"There will be these certain games that are difficult. It's about qualifying.
"The draw with Macedonia is a small setback - but we have to make sure we get our heads down and try and put it right on Wednesday now.
"I don't think Saturday was a reality check. We were quite realistic in the dressing room and we understand that, as much as you want to win every game, it doesn't always work that way.
"Macedonia didn't surprise me. People and the lads in the drssing room should have respect for Macedonia.
"People say 'Macedonia' and a few years ago you wouldn't even count them as a real challenge.
"But they have got good quality players especially up front and in midfield. We half expected them to be dangerous on the counter-attack like they were.
"We expected ourselves to have that little edge more that would have put us in the lead and won the game. You are talking about the final ball and the finishing.
"The goalkeeper made a couple of decent saves. You have days where the final ball slips away or gets blocked and credit to them, they defended well at the back."