Source: Daily_Mail
Frank Lampard and John Terry ruled out of England's crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers
Fabio Capello's fight to keep his £6million-a-year England job was dealt a double blow on Saturday night when Chelsea stars Frank Lampard and John Terry pulled out of the vital Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland.[LNB]Lampard needs a hernia operation, while Terry has a hamstring injury which was aggravated in the 2-0 win over Stoke. [LNB] Feeling Blue: Chelsea's John Terry (above) and Frank Lampard (below right) have both been ruled out of England's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland next week[LNB]Capello, under enormous pressure to deliver a winning start to the campaign after his team's desperate World Cup performances, also faces doubts over Tottenham strikers Peter Crouch, with a suspected broken rib, and Jermain Defoe, who also needs a hernia operation, plus Fulham's Bobby Zamora, who suffered a thigh injury in the 2-2 draw at Premier League newcomers Blackpool. [LNB]Third-choice goalkeeper Dave Stockdale, of Fulham, is also a doubt, but it will be the loss of Lampard and Terry - two of England's most experienced players - that will deal a hammer blow to Capello's hopes.[LNB]England face Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday night and the Swiss in Basle four days later. Anything less than victory in both games will heap enormous pressure on Capello, whose performance as manager is increasingly being scrutinised by his FA bosses after a calamitous World Cup.[LNB]Lampard was withdrawn by Chelsea on Saturday night and will undergo surgery on Wednesday after being substituted after 71 minutes yesterday. [LNB]'He needs a hernia operation and he needs to have it this week,' said Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti after a result which keeps Chelsea top of the table. [LNB]'It's easy surgery but he has started to feel the pain and he needs the operation. We have already spoken to the national team to explain the situation. [LNB]'It is not a big problem. Frank had an operation on this groin 10 years ago and needs another now.' [LNB] Pain game: Peter Crouch doubles over in agony after sustaining a suspected broken rib[LNB]Lampard's withdrawal, though, will leave Capello short of one of his most experienced players for what may prove to be the defining matches of his England career. [LNB]Capello is also likely to be missing Crouch, whose club manager Harry Redknapp said after Tottenham's 1-0 home defeat by Wigan: 'I think he may have broken a rib, and if he has he will miss the England game. He was in agony at half-time but he's not sure what he's done.' [LNB]The rash of injuries could not have come at a worse time for Capello. But at least he had some good news after Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney scored his first goal since March, with a 32nd-minute penalty in the 3-0 win over West Ham.[LNB]Meanwhile, former Newcastle and England striker Peter Beardsley gave Capello a glowing report on Andy Carroll during the half-time break at Old Trafford. [LNB]Beardsley, a coach at Carroll's Newcastle, was scouting in Manchester and said: 'All the big clubs know about Andy and are watching his progress, but No 9s have a special place at Newcastle. I didn't mind telling Fabio all about what he can do.' [LNB] Chelsea 2 Stoke 0: Malouda and Drogba keep Blues cruising at the topStoke slap £10m price tag on Chelsea target Asmir BegovicEngland boss Capello has talks with Everton's Spanish midfielder ArtetaCHELSEA FC
