Lampard calls for calm

11 June 2009 20:05
Frank Lampard has refused to get carried away with England's impressive form and believes success in South Africa will define their progress. Boss Fabio Capello has a perfect record in qualifying for the World Cup with seven wins from seven games in his first campaign with the latest win a 6-0 drubbing over minnows Andorra. The win put England 10 points clear of Croatia and Ukraine in Group Six and their form has prompted many England fans to suggest the squad are well equipped to win the tournament next summer. Lampard netted his second of the campaign in the Andorra rout but has called for calm heads as England near automatic qualification. "Going into the World Cup on good form can be a good thing, as long as we do not get carried away and have the right attitude," he said. "As a group we are not overconfident. We are playing well, but we realise there is still a long way to go. "We just need to keep the form going into the World Cup and then get our minds right. "We are scoring regularly, there is a confidence about us and it is important we carry that on and qualify as soon as possible. "We have always had good individuals, but now we are playing as a team." After missing out on the European Championship finals last summer, Fabio Capello has restored pride in the national team after a change in personnel and formation rejuvenated the England team. Lampard came under scrutiny during the last campaign for failing to strike up a working partnership with fellow midfielder Steven Gerrard. The pair failed to gel in the centre of the pitch under former boss Steve McClaren, but Capello's changes have seen both Lampard and the Liverpool captain operate in new roles. "The manager has tweaked it a little bit and everyone is happy," said Lampard. "We are both playing slightly different roles than we do for our clubs, but we are happy because we are in a winning team and it is gelling. "I basically stop a lot more, am playing more of a central role. "The manager wants discipline in the centre of the park. Stevie has more freedom to roll in off the left where he can be very dangerous even though it is not his Liverpool position." The emergence of Gareth Barry as a regular in Capello's side has seen an improvement in the midfield's performance and Lampard admits that a bond has formed as a result of their good form. "We were playing well for our clubs week in and week out, but never hurt teams as a group. Now we are," he explained. "There is a togetherness about us, you can feel it in training every day, and that is the difference. "At the moment it is all clicking, but we will be judged at the end of the World Cup rather than winning games against Andorra." "I feel the hunger even more with the more experience I get. I am enjoying my football for both Chelsea and England. "I am feeling more confident and just want to keep playing. There is a big season ahead for me." Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has also benefited from a return to international form as he took his tally to 10 for the campaign against Andorra. England teammate Lampard has hailed the 23-year-old's form and believes it is down to finding the right balance in his approach play. "Wayne has been up there for quite a while and now he is scoring a few more goals at international level people are sitting up and taking notice. But he is right up there with the best," said Lampard. "Maybe he occupied himself a bit much with dropping deep and trying to put people in and do everything. "Now he has found that medium where he is doing that stuff, but also getting in the box on the end of things."

Source: SKY_Sports