World Cup 22: England legend and Everton boss Frank Lampard has called for a “balanced and realistic” outlook when assessing the Three Lions’ chances at the FIFA Men’s World Cup, while throwing his support behind their much-maligned coach Gareth Southgate and central defender Harry Maguire.
After a semi-final exit at the last World Cup in Russia and falling agonisingly short of winning the Euros last year, England come into the tournament as one of the favourites.
The manager, Southgate and the 26 players he has selected, are saddled with the enormous expectations of English football fans back home to deliver on a 56-year long wait to finally bring the World Cup ‘home’.
But the run-in has been less than ideal as the Three Lions have been under enormous scrutiny for their poor run of form, which saw them relegated from League A of the UEFA Nations League – after a run of six straight games without a win.
Lampard, however, who is in Australia with Everton for the Sydney Super Cup, told KEEPUP that he is confident in England’s ability to live up to those expectations and has called for a “balanced” outlook when assessing their chances at the World Cup.
“I think it’s a talented squad and we should just appreciate and congratulate what Gareth’s done in his job to get to a semi-final and final in major tournaments and… if that brings a bit of expectation then good,” Lampard said.
“I think most people when you’re balanced and realistic about it – you look at other squads in the tournament and you see teams like Brazil and Argentina, full of talent.
“European teams have gone and done it before in recent years with France and Germany and I think in a balanced way you look at it and say, we trust and believe in this England team.
“We’ve got a lot of good players but we also respect that this is a World Cup and a lot of nations are strong so maybe I’m asking for balance and some people don’t want to see that.
“We’re all England fans so you want the best, you want the team to go a long way but I think if they build momentum within the tournament, get through the group and build momentum then I’m sure that the team’s got that talent to live up to expectations but what that ends up being… I don’t know!”
When England’s 26 man squad was announced, Southgate was criticised for his decision to take Harry Maguire, who has only played four games for Manchester United in the lead-in to the tournament due to injury, while leaving in-form AC Milan stopper Fikayo Tomori at home.
Lampard backed Southgate’s decision to take Maguire and hopes the fans can get behind the much maligned central defender, should he get on the park during their time in Qatar.
“I understand exactly why he’s picked whether or not he’s played minutes, Gareth trusts him, he’s played brilliantly for England many a time – experienced player so I’m completely with that,” Lampard said.
“With the squad that was picked people will always question elements of it, that’s the job of being an England coach – it’s not an easy one because there’s some good talent to pick from and you can’t pick them all.
“I think he’s a quality player… again you hope he gets the backing of the support because that will help him then go and perform and I think the England fans do understand and respect what Harry’s done for them.
“It’s about him keeping his fitness levels up. He’s played some minutes and he’ll have been training a lot, they’ll be with the squad and he’ll feel a link to the manager for picking him.
“There’s a trust element there which is a good thing for a player that the manager trusts you because that is the important thing and I wish him well, I hope he plays and plays well.”
Lampard also heaped praise on young star Jude Bellingham – a player he tried to sign during his year and a half as Chelsea boss – believing he’s primed for a good showing in Qatar alongside Declan Rice, a fellow midfield target of his during his Stamford Bridge spell.
“He’s crucial already. He’s an outstanding talent for such a young player,” he said.
“He’s more experienced and talented than his year’s show – to do what he’s done at the top level already. I tried to sign him when I was at Chelsea, unfortunately that didn’t happen, I tried to sign him and Declan Rice, that will be England’s midfield for this tournament.
“It’s a lot of expectation so we have to be a bit steady with him but the way he’s played, the way he’s performed he has a real sort of mature sense about him as well so I’m sure not too much will phase him and I expect him to go and have a good tournament.”
