While David Beckham was getting the cheers of England fans, Frank Lampard was getting the jeers.
Already out of favor after a series of poor performances for the national team, Lampard's name was met with subdued applause when the lineups were announced for Friday's 1-1 draw with Brazil at Wembley stadium.
That it followed the raucous cheers that met Beckham's return after 10 months out only highlighted how much Lampard had to do to impress.
Instead of showing the form that carried Chelsea to five trophies in the past three seasons, he misplaced passes, was often beaten to the ball and shot wildly until he was substituted in the 88th minute.
The same 88,745 fans who had given Beckham a standing ovation when he exited 12 minutes earlier, booed Lampard from the field.
«I don't like hearing that for any of the players,» England coach Steve McClaren said. «It's disappointing, but Frank's a tough kid. He's been through criticism before and he's only concerned about his performance out on the field.»
So are the fans, though.
Lampard was England fans' player of the year as recently as 2004, but his inability to forge an intuitive understanding with Steven Gerrard in central midfield has led to a widespread belief among many that the pair are too similar.
Most want new Manchester United signing Owen Hargreaves to be reinstated as the defensive midfielder when he regains fitness, and for Lampard to be dropped. If Gerrard was injured or out of form, Lampard would get another chance in his place.
Some point to the fact that teams such as World Cup champion Italy have traditionally made players fit their tactics rather than tactics fit players. Alessandro Del Piero's international chances have been limited since, despite his form for Juventus, Italy has refused to accommodate both him and playmaker Francesco Totti.
McClaren insisted that he was happy with Lampard's partnership with Gerrard against the five-time world champions on Friday, although it was the latter's tracking and tackling _ particularly a last-second challenge on Kaka that denied a chance on the edge of the area _ that made the positive perspective possible.
«Many doubt whether he and Stevie can play together, but they proved tonight against a world-class team with world-class players, the front four of which anybody would play in their team,» McClaren said. «They had the most important job of anybody and, for me, they did it very well.»
Lampard is likely to keep his place for Wednesday's crucial European Championship qualifier at Estonia, but McClaren may have some tough choices when Hargreaves and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon return to fitness.
Hargreaves is sure to return in central midfield, with Lampard most likely to make way for him, unless McClaren pushes someone out of position.
Lennon, who was injured in last week's second-string «B» international against Albania, will be vying for Beckham's role on the right of midfield when he comes back, but McClaren wasn't looking that far ahead.
«We wanted to get this game over with a good performance, but the focus is on Wednesday,» McClaren said. «We're not looking beyond that.»
PR-inside.com
Already out of favor after a series of poor performances for the national team, Lampard's name was met with subdued applause when the lineups were announced for Friday's 1-1 draw with Brazil at Wembley stadium.
That it followed the raucous cheers that met Beckham's return after 10 months out only highlighted how much Lampard had to do to impress.
Instead of showing the form that carried Chelsea to five trophies in the past three seasons, he misplaced passes, was often beaten to the ball and shot wildly until he was substituted in the 88th minute.
The same 88,745 fans who had given Beckham a standing ovation when he exited 12 minutes earlier, booed Lampard from the field.
«I don't like hearing that for any of the players,» England coach Steve McClaren said. «It's disappointing, but Frank's a tough kid. He's been through criticism before and he's only concerned about his performance out on the field.»
So are the fans, though.
Lampard was England fans' player of the year as recently as 2004, but his inability to forge an intuitive understanding with Steven Gerrard in central midfield has led to a widespread belief among many that the pair are too similar.
Most want new Manchester United signing Owen Hargreaves to be reinstated as the defensive midfielder when he regains fitness, and for Lampard to be dropped. If Gerrard was injured or out of form, Lampard would get another chance in his place.
Some point to the fact that teams such as World Cup champion Italy have traditionally made players fit their tactics rather than tactics fit players. Alessandro Del Piero's international chances have been limited since, despite his form for Juventus, Italy has refused to accommodate both him and playmaker Francesco Totti.
McClaren insisted that he was happy with Lampard's partnership with Gerrard against the five-time world champions on Friday, although it was the latter's tracking and tackling _ particularly a last-second challenge on Kaka that denied a chance on the edge of the area _ that made the positive perspective possible.
«Many doubt whether he and Stevie can play together, but they proved tonight against a world-class team with world-class players, the front four of which anybody would play in their team,» McClaren said. «They had the most important job of anybody and, for me, they did it very well.»
Lampard is likely to keep his place for Wednesday's crucial European Championship qualifier at Estonia, but McClaren may have some tough choices when Hargreaves and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon return to fitness.
Hargreaves is sure to return in central midfield, with Lampard most likely to make way for him, unless McClaren pushes someone out of position.
Lennon, who was injured in last week's second-string «B» international against Albania, will be vying for Beckham's role on the right of midfield when he comes back, but McClaren wasn't looking that far ahead.
«We wanted to get this game over with a good performance, but the focus is on Wednesday,» McClaren said. «We're not looking beyond that.»
PR-inside.com
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