Lampard: Don't get on our backs

2008-09-02 09:27

London - Frank Lampard has pleaded with England's fans not to turn Barcelona's Olympic Stadium into a theatre of hate again when his side face Andorra on Saturday.

Lampard and his teammates were subjected to horrific abuse from England supporters during a lacklustre Euro 2008 qualifying victory over Andorra 17 months ago.

Even though the Chelsea star, who was injured for the match, watched from the stands as Steve McClaren's team spluttered to a 3-0 win over the part-timers, that didn't spare him from the criticism.

With the signs of discontent among England fans after last month's friendly against the Czech Republic fresh in Lampard's memory, he is concerned Saturday's first World Cup qualifier could turn ugly if Fabio Capello's team struggle.

"We just the hope the fans who travel this time will be behind the team," he said. "When we went there before it was not a good atmosphere. Anyone who was there will know that.

"I don't know if it was as bad as I can remember but when you play for England you have to be tough and able to handle atmospheres like that.

'You need the crowd'

"The problem is games like that can be frustrating. Andorra are just going to sit in and try to make the score as respectable as they can.

"You need the crowd with you because when you are trying to break a team down, sometimes you have to wait a bit longer for a goal than you expect."

Nobody has any doubt England will emerge victorious. It is the manner of that triumph that counts with Croatia to face in Zagreb four days later for a match that could define Capello's reign.

With Steven Gerrard out injured, Lampard will be England's key midfielder but he played down suggestions that the onus was on him to provide a match-winning influence.

"I don't know if there will be more onus on me," he said. "I think the eyes are on all the team because we need to get results. It's not about individuals. The manager is very strong on that, it's about a team effort.

"We shouldn't single out any players. If people drop out we have a big enough squad to cope."

However while Lampard was anxious to talk up the team ethic Capello is determined to instil at the expense of individuals, he had a very clear view of what England want from their opening two games.

"We take these games as a package and we want six points, simple as that," he said. "Quite rightly, we are expected to beat Andorra.

"But those games aren't that easy. Hopefully we can score an early goal and then go on and get the comfortable result we want."

- AFP