Frank Lampard’s 100th England cap is a reward for all of his hard graft

By
Neil Ashton


PUBLISHED:

22:32 GMT, 8 September 2013


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UPDATED:

22:32 GMT, 8 September 2013

There is a moment brilliantly captured on film when Harry Redknapp puts his reputation on the line during a fiery exchange at a West Ham supporters’ club function in 1996.

‘I’m telling you right now, Frank Lampard will go right to the very top — he’s got everything that’s needed,’ Redknapp told assembled Hammers fans at the Rollerbowl in Collier Row, Essex.

‘His attitude is first class. He has strength, he can play and he can score goals.’ 

VIDEO HARRY REDKNAPP SAYS A YOUNG FRANK LAMPARD ‘WILL GO RIGHT TO THE TOP’

England centurion: Frank Lampard is to win his 100th cap in the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine

England centurion: Frank Lampard is to win his 100th cap in the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine

ENGLAND’S CENTURIONS

Peter Shilton, 125 caps

David Beckham, 115 caps

Bobby Moore 108 caps

Bobby Charlton, 106 caps

Billy Wright, 105 caps

Ashley Cole, 104 caps

Steven Gerrard, 104 caps

Nearly 20 years on and those qualities will be needed again when he is rewarded with his 100th England cap in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Kyiv’s Olympic Stadium.

Lampard will become a centurion against Ukraine, joining an elite band of England players: Peter Shilton, David Beckham, Bobby Moore, Sir Bobby Charlton, Billy Wright, Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard.

‘I’m proud to get to 100 caps and say I have done it like Bobby Moore because I grew up on stories of him,’ Lampard revealed on Sunday.

The hard yards, like when he was once mocked by former Hammers’ youth team player Martyn Mullen — ‘what the **** are you doing’ — for staying behind to do some extra shuttle runs, has paid off. Even at 35 he still does them after training with Chelsea and England, forced into the habit by his dad Frank Senior when he was a young boy at West Ham.

Evergreen: Lampard has been an England regular since 2004

Evergreen: Lampard has been an England regular since 2004

Steven Gerrard

David Beckham

Modern greats: Steven Gerrard and David Beckham are among those to reach 100 caps in recent times

Bobby Moore

Bobby Charlton

All time greats: Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton are two of England’s best ever players

‘Even now he phones me to check that I’ve done them and I’m like “dad — for God’s sake”. I just try to humour him now. But he put that work ethic in me.

‘He probably bullied me into it a bit, but I can’t thank him enough for it now. If you are going to try to get to the top and get 100 caps, it was something I needed to do.’

Frank Senior is planning to travel to Kyiv, something that made his son momentarily pause mid-sentence as he grasped the scale of his achievement on Friday.

There will also be a quiet moment of reflection when Lampard remembers his mother Pat, too, who passed away just days before Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in 2008. ‘I was a mum’s boy,’ he said at the time.

She would be proud of him on Monday as he prepares to make his 100th appearance for his country in a World Cup qualifier.

England debut: The midfielder first appeared for the national side under Kevin Keegan in 1999

England debut: The midfielder first appeared for the national side under Kevin Keegan in 1999

Influential: Lampard's dad, Frank Sr, has had a significant impact on his career

Influential: Lampard’s dad, Frank Sr, has had a significant impact on his career

He remembers his debut against Belgium at the Stadium of Light in 1999, when Gareth Southgate spoke to him in the dressing room to calm his nerves. ‘Now I try to do that with the younger players,’ said Lampard. ‘When I look at a player like Andros Townsend coming in, or Ross Barkley, I think it’s fantastic for them.’

‘Ross Barkley comes on and played 25 minutes against Moldova. What a perfect way to try and give a kid a leg up, tell him he’s doing well, give him a taste of it.

‘Of course you don’t want to throw kids in there too soon, but when you trust young players, then with the right feel and touch from the manager, giving them a little taste here and there, it’s brilliant for them.’

Lampard wants to help the next generation by sitting on FA chairman Greg Dyke’s commission into the future of English football, offering advice as a current international.

The Chelsea midfielder has been through the full range of emotions, voted England supporters’ player of the year in 2004 and 2005 before his form tailed off at the 2006 World Cup.

His miss in the penalty shootout against Portugal at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen is one of his greatest regrets in an England shirt. ‘My dad gave me a little jolt on the phone to make sure I got my head down and got through it,’ he added.

‘You have ups and downs in your England career, but you don’t get to 100 caps unless you get through these moments.’

He has had some incredible highs, from scoring his first England goal against Croatia in 2003 to his first tournament goal against France in the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon at Euro 2004.

Highs: Lampard scored England's goal to give them the lead against France at Euro 2004

Highs: Lampard scored England’s goal to give them the lead against France at Euro 2004

Lows: But also missed a crucial penalty as England lost to Portugal at the 2006 World Cup

Lows: But also missed a crucial penalty as England lost to Portugal at the 2006 World Cup

Lampard was wearing the number 11 shirt for England that night, rising to meet David Beckham’s whipped right wing free-kick to steer his header beyond Fabien Barthez.

‘I was a bit sloppy with my shirts when I was younger, so I’m not sure I’ve got every one and I’m not one for having them all over the house,’ he added.

He still has the shirt he wore against Germany at the 2010 World Cup when his disallowed goal against Joachim Loew’s team in Bloemfontein became one of the stories of the tournament.

There is a genuine fear in his voice when Lampard talks about the end of his international career, treading carefully as he considers whether the World Cup would be his last tournament.

Crushing: Lampard had what would have been an important goal ruled out against Germany in 2010

Crushing: Lampard had what would have been an important goal ruled out against Germany in 2010

‘Realistically I think it would be, but I would love to get there because it prolongs the year — I don’t want to say I will retire after that. I enjoy being with this group of young players, I enjoy the manager and I want England to get to the World Cup. I wouldn’t want to go out without getting there.’

Whatever happens after that, Lampard will be remembered as one of England’s greats.

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