Source: Team_Talk
Lampard keen to keep penalty duties
England midfielder Frank Lampard is keen to keep hold of penalty-taking duties despite missing from the spot in the friendly win over Japan.[LNB] The 31-year-old was denied from 12 yards by Eiji Kawashima after Keisuke Honda's handball had given Fabio Capello's side the perfect chance to equalise 10 minutes into the second half.[LNB]He wants to retain the responsibility in South Africa, although he admits Capello will have the final say.[LNB]"It's down to the manager," the Chelsea player told ITV1. "I'll always want to take it. It wasn't a great penalty. It's disappointing because I've practised loads this week.[LNB]"I'm always confident in taking them and that will make me go away and work harder. If the manager wants me to take it I'll always step up."[LNB]The miss did not prove costly, with own goals by Marcus Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa overturning Tanaka's opener.[LNB]Overall, Lampard was pleased with the final work-out before heading out to South Africa.[LNB]"It was not an easy game," he said. "It was not a vintage performance by far but it's about players and the team trying to find their way a bit."[LNB]Reflecting on today's result and Monday's 3-1 win over Mexico at Wembley, he added: "We've played two and won two. We have to take positives from that.[LNB]"It's down to the players. We've stepped up our game. In the first half we were slightly sluggish, and in the second half we got more of the ball and got the ball into their box more quickly."[LNB]Joe Cole came on for the second half and will hope he has done enough to secure a place on the plane, but Capello does not plan to reveal his final 23 until the FIFA deadline on Tuesday.[LNB]Cole, who missed much of the 2009-10 campaign for Chelsea through injury, told ITV1: "That's down to the manager. I've had a good 10 days' training and a good 45 minutes so, hopefully.[LNB]"I just want to go and help England win the World Cup."[LNB]On the game, he said: "The most important thing was that we got the win.[LNB]"These games are never easy. You don't want to get injured - there were some tackles flying in... it's a great win and a decent performance."[LNB]Capello had seen enough in Graz to finalise his squad, but will not show his hand until he is forced to do so.[LNB]"You have to wait until June 1," he said. "I know. You have to wait."[LNB]He added: "Joe Cole is an intelligent player. He can play in different positions. It was a very interesting game for me. I saw a lot of players who have not played before.[LNB]"I think we played better, faster (in the second half)" he said. "We found the space. I'm happy with the second half.[LNB]"(In the first half) we played too slow. It was easy for the Japanese to defend."[LNB]The Italian has been linked with a move to Inter Milan to succeed Jose Mourinho after the World Cup and has so far done little to quash such talk, refusing to rule anything out.[LNB]And he does expect to make any announcement either way in the near future.[LNB]"I will focus only on the World Cup - nothing more," he said.
