LAMPARD: READY AND ENJOYING IT

Posted on: Tue 19 Mar 2013

Frank Lampard hopes to be involved in both England games during this international break as he approaches the 100-cap mark.
The midfielder has represented his country 94 times but having seen Steven Gerrard and Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole reach a century for England over the past few months, Lampard would like to be next , but is taking nothing for granted as he prepares for important fixtures away to San Marino and Montenegro.
'I'm here and ready to be involved, hopefully in both games. I'm pleased with the amount of games I've played and I'll keep trying to keep going and see if I can pick up some more caps,' he said on Tuesday.
'I watched Steven do it, I watched Ashley do it now and I've been in the squad for a long time for those boys. It's a very proud moment for any player that reaches that. On the flip side, having played 94 times now if it all ended today I'd be very proud of what I've done for England. Without wanting to look six caps ahead, I'll try and go game by game. If I did get there I'd be a very proud man.
'I do enjoy it, particularly in the last year or two of my career. As you get older you understand it won't go on forever so I do really appreciate playing for my country as much as ever, even more so maybe, I really do enjoy coming, I enjoy playing.
'My body reacts better to staying training and playing and keeping on top of myself. Whether it's Chelsea or England, I'm enjoying both at the minute so it's good for me.'
Now 34, Lampard has always maintained he is at his best when playing consistently. It has meant adapting the way he trains, much like Cole and Gerrard, and Rio Ferdinand, who has withdrawn from the squad to manage his own fitness schedule at Manchester United.
'I used to train harder as a young kid and had the capacity to do so without feeling it would affect me in games. As you get older maybe [you do] a bit less of that and have more awareness of how to rest and maintain yourself,' Lampard explained. 'It comes with the territory. I don't think you can prolong yourself like Ryan Giggs has done without getting passed the 30-mark and looking at it from a slightly different angle.
'Every individual is different. I've always found it better for me to keep playing regularly. I don't like taking breaks or going on holidays during the season but you make your decisions based on how you feel.'
With 18 goals for club and country this season, Lampard has the 20-mark in his sights once more, and is hoping to add to his 27 England goals in the forthcoming fixtures.
'I always set my sights on scoring consistently,' he said. 'I've been lucky to do so over a number of years, and I'd like to get them and for them to be important goals. I'm pleased considering I had an injury for a couple of months that I've managed to get there. When I'm at my best and most confident I can score regularly.'
England are second in their World Cup qualifying group. Victory over San Marino is expected, as Lampard accepts, before a potentially decisive trip to the group leaders Montenegro.
'We're expected to win against San Marino. It's a game to be professional,' he said. 'You don't get much credit whatever the result, you're expected to win comfortably. By being professional and disciplined with the quality we have in our team, we want to get the right result.
'With Montenegro top of the group, us in second and going away we're aware how tough that game is out there. It's imperative we do our utmost to get the right results in both games. I believe in the squad and players we have.'

sumber: http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3115107

INTERNATIONALS: LAMPARD AND BELGIANS ON TARGET

Posted on: Fri 22 Mar 2013

On an evening of World Cup qualifiers across Europe, Frank Lampard was the captain for England's expected big win against San Marino and he found the net too, scoring his side's fifth goal just before half-time when he turned in a Leighton Baines cross.
England went on to win 8-0 with Lampard playing the first 66 minutes, earning his 95^th cap.
It was his 28^th goal for his country, only eight England players have scored more, and he draws level on goals with Vivian Woodward who played for Chelsea in our first decade.
Ashley Cole did not add to his century of caps. He remained on the bench with Gary Cahill already ruled out due to a knee injury. England move within two points of group leaders Montenegro whom they visit on Tuesday.
Also among the goals on Friday evening were Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard as Belgium won 2-0 away in Macedonia. Hazard's was from the penalty spot in the second half after he had been fouled, De Bruyne having scored with a shot from a tight angle in the first half. Thibaut Courtois was the goalkeeper who recorded a clean sheet. Romelu Lukaku was an unused sub.


Branislav Ivanovic and Serbia suffered a set-back in their qualifying campaign when they went down 2-0 away to neighbours Croatia.
Serbia are now six points behind second-place Belgium, who have a game in hand, and nine behind Croatia.
Petr Cech's 99^th international ended in defeat after Denmark put three second-half goals past him.
That 3-0 result leaves Czech Republic fourth in their group, on the same points as the Danes and four behind second-place Bulgaria who have played a game more. Italy are one point further ahead.
World champions Spain were held at home by Finland, Juan Mata coming off the bench to replace Cesc Fabregas with quarter-of-an-hour to go, shortly before the visitors equalised. The Chelsea man then created late chances for Gerard Pique and Alvaro Negredo and went close himself, but Spain dropped their first points in their third qualifier. Cesar Azpilicueta was an unused sub.
Yossi Benayoun came on in the 81^st minute of Israel's home match against Portugal with the score 3-2 in their favour, but Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao equalised in the very last minute to leave those two nations level on points and four behind group leaders Russia, who now have a game in hand following the postponement of their match in Northern Ireland to Saturday afternoon due to bad weather.
On Monday the Russians take on Brazil at Stamford Bridge. Tickets are still available from the box office to personal callers only.

sumber : http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3118923/title/internationals-lampard-and-belgians-on-target