Tag: Steven Gerard

Lampard Calls Time On International Career

lampardChelsea legend, Frank Lampard has announced his retirement from international football.

Lampard, who joined Manchester City in the summer on loan from New York City, called time on his England career which has spanned 15 years and earned him 106 caps.

The 36 year old midfielder said in a statement released by his management company: “I have taken the decision to retire from international football”.

”It has been a very tough decision for me to make which is why I have given it so much thought since the World Cup.”

Lampard added: “Due to my club career now going in a different direction, it is of utmost importance for me to consider my family first and also to concentrate on how I can perform consistently to the best of my abilities over my next few years in club football.

“It is now the time to move forward and I feel very confident that with Roy Hodgson in charge, the young players that we have coming through, and the changes that are being made throughout the development of the youth system in this country, that we will have success in the future and a team that this country deserves.”

Lampard left Chelsea after 13 years at Stamford Bridge this summer, joining the new MLS franchise New York City, before agreeing a short-term deal to join the Premier League champions, Manchester City.

The former Chelsea man was capped 106 times in a career dating back to October 1999 and follows Steven Gerrard into international retirement.

Lampard Says Cole Deserves To Captain England Against Ireland

England International and Chelsea player Frank Lampard has backed teammate Ashley for the captain armband in the clash against Ireland in Wembley after the defender was handed the captaincy in recognition of that achievement.

According to his football statistics, the game will pass as Cole’s 102nd cap for the Three Lions while it also passes as the player’s first home match since reaching a century of appearances.

Vice-captain Lampard expressed his delight over the decision during a news conference yesterday where he told news men that it was the right decision that was made.

The necessity to transfer the captaincy of the Three Lions squad was called for with Steven Gerard injured but it was supposed to be transferred to Frank Lampard by virtue of his position as the vice-captain to the injured captain Steven Gerard.

Lampard rooted for Cole’s captaincy not just to celebrate his 100th caps but for his noticeable performance throughout his caps England labelling the defender as the most consistent left back probably in world football over such a long period of time.

Lampard said it’s the perfect gesture and very much deserved for Cole and as a teammate of his at Chelsea and England he is glad for Cole.

 

And ahead of the friendly between England and Ireland, manager Roy Hodgson has written to English fans who will be attending the game live to forego any act of provocative attitude during the game, a match that the England manager sees as that which will boost Three Lions preparation for their World Cup qualifiers later in the year.

 

England will do all it can to qualify for the Brazil 2014 World Cup with four games left to play England lies on the second spot in Group H with 12 points, two points behind Montenegro.

 

Wednesday’s friendly will be the first time England and Ireland have played each other since a match was abandoned due to rioting at Lansdowne Road in 1995.

 

 

John Terry retires from international football

John Terry has announced his retirement from international football.

This was a personal and difficult decision for John to take as playing for and captaining his country was a boyhood dream.

John first represented England in June 2003 against Serbia and Montenegro.

John George Terry plays in a centre back position for the Three Lions also the captain of Chelsea in the Premier League. He was also captain of the England national football team, holding the post from August 2006 to February 2010 and from March 2011 to February 2012.

Terry was named UEFA Club Defender of the Year in 2005, 2008 and 2009. PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2005, and was included in the FIFPro World XI for four consecutive seasons, from 2005 to 2008. He was also named in the all-star squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the only English player to make the team. He wears the number 26 shirt for Chelsea.

Terry is Chelsea’s most successful captain, having led them to three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a UEFA Champions League since 2004. He is one of five players to have made over 500 appearances for Chelsea and is also the club’s all-time highest scoring defender.

In 2007, he became the first captain to lift the FA Cup at the new Wembley Stadium in Chelsea’s 1–0 win over Manchester United, and also the first player to score an international goal there, scoring a header in England’s 1–1 draw with Brazil.

The 31-year-old was named England captain in August 2006 and went on to lead his country 34 times.

John also won nine caps at Under-21 level.

Van Persie’s spot-kick sinks unlucky Liverpool

Manchester United earned a much desired victory against a 10-man Reds of Liverpool at Anfield this afternoon as a Robin Van Persie late penalty did the magic for the Red Devils.

Jonjo Shelvey’s sending-off brought down the host’s team to 10 men but still managed to take the lead through Steven Gerrard’s volley seconds after the interval.

Shelvey robbed Ryan Giggs in midfield but as the ball broke free he launched himself at Jonny Evans and the inevitable outcome was a red card.

However, Rafael equalised soon after and Van Persie, one of three United players to miss from the spot this term, scored his fourth goal in as many games against the Reds – although three of those had come for former side Arsenal – nine minutes from time.

Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra shook hands in a show of unity before the game – the Liverpool forward had refused to shake the United defender’s hand in the league meeting between the sides at Old Trafford in February, having previously been found guilty of racially abusing Evra in the corresponding fixture at Anfield last season.

Second-half substitute Suso, making his Premier League debut three days after his first-team bow in Switzerland, saw his cross half-cleared to Glen Johnson. A tackle from Paul Scholes, on for Nani at half-time, succeeded only in diverting the ball towards Gerrard who volleyed home left-footed in front of the Kop.

It was short-lived, however, as within five minutes United were level when Shinji Kagawa laid the ball off for Rafael to brilliantly curl left-footed over Jose Reina and in off the far post.

Daniel Agger and Johnson collided to allow Antonio Valencia to race 50 yards into the area and although Johnson got back he could only bring down the Ecuador international. Van Persie drilled home – although Reina went the right way and almost made the stop.

EURO 2012: England can’t make it without Rooney – Nani

Portugal winger and Manchester United forward man, Nani opined that England will not go far into the Euro 2012 tournament not talk of making it out of the group stage as Wayne Rooney is not in the line-up of the three lions.

Rooney got himself suspended after the opening two games in Ukraine as he was red-carded in the qualifying clash when England faced Montenegro in October 2011.

A major headache that is for England Manager Roy Hodgson who is looking at either Danny Welbeck or Andy Carroll as possible replacements for the England striker as they prepare to face France  and Sweden on Monday and June 15th respectively.

Rooney teammate at Manchester United expressed his fear that not pitching Wayne Rooney for England will the campaign in EURO 2012 earlier than planned for he is a key player for England that will be missed in the two games and the spate of injuries to key players could mean England will be on an early plane out of Ukraine.

According to the 25 year old Portuguese player, “Rooney is angry about his absence because he knows he’s the man to score goals and he won’t be there working for the team. I sincerely want England to reach the quarter-finals, but it’s not going to be easy”.

He said the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry are vulnerable because they are suffering in all departments of the team as these players are so important for the team and their replacements are not at the same level.

However, England captain Steven Gerard claims the lower expectation levels on his side may actually work in their favour this time around.