Source: Daily_Mail
England skipper Steven Gerrard ready to revisit Swiss nightmare in Euro 2012 crunch
[LNB]Disgrace: Frei spits at Gerrard[LNB]Steven Gerrard willtonight lead England on to astage where he enduredperhaps the worst 45 minutesof his career. [LNB]He will also haveto shake the hand of a manwho once spat at him. [LNB]It will be another test forGerrard in what should bethe final episode of a character-building, seven-gamesequence as stand-in captain. [LNB]Rio Ferdinand expects tobe fit to reclaim the armbandagainst Montenegro nextmonth but first comes thetoughest fixture in this Euro2012 qualifying group and apersonal score to settle. [LNB]When Gerrard played herefor Liverpool in the ChampionsLeague eight years ago,he was substituted at half-timewith his team 3-0 down. [LNB]Manager Gerard Houllieraccused the young midfielderof believing his own hype ashe replaced him with SalifDiao and salvaged a 3-3 drawwhich was not enough toreach the next round. [LNB]'When you believe you are anaccomplished player, you godown quickly at this level,'said Houllier at the time. [LNB]Gerrard cited his parents'divorce for the poor showingbut last night confessed: 'Thatwas an excuse. I was just terrible. [LNB]'You have to blame it onsomething. You learn from things likethat throughout your career.Highs and lows. That wascertainly a low in my career. [LNB]'It was probably one of theworst performances I've putin. I totally deserved to bewhipped off at half-time. But it helps you become theplayer you are. [LNB] Wearing the armband: Steven Gerrard will lead England out against Switzerland[LNB]'You learn fromexperience. I'm the player Iam today from learning andrecovering from my lows,rather than dwelling on myhighs. [LNB]'Things like that happenand you become a betterplayer from them. I was sittingin the dressing-room onmy own, having been takenoff in one of my first ChampionsLeague games.' [LNB]Gerrard has no issue eitherwith Alexander Frei, theSwitzerland captain bannedfor three games after spittingat Gerrard's neck during agame in the Euro 2004 finalsin Portugal. [LNB]'At the time, I was upset,'said the England skipper, winninghis 87th cap tonight. [LNB]VIDEO: Gerrard on Swiss test...'Butit was six years ago and I don'thold grudges. He's apologised,so we move on. [LNB]'Hopefully wewon't see it again.' [LNB]Gerrard proved a capablediplomat. He has a case forkeeping the armband butFabio Capello has made itclear that won't happen. [LNB]Had it been Ferdinand fieldingquestions yesterday, hewould have found himselftrying to explain how hisManchester restaurant hadcome to provide the backdropfor one of Wayne Rooney'salleged liaisons withprostitute Jenny Thompson. [LNB]Luckily for England, Gerrardwas in the firing line.[LNB] Wayne Rooney prostitute Jennifer Thompson shamelessly breaks cover as disgraced fooballer jets off to Switzerland with England squadDefoe to face Young Boys keeper with Swiss No 1 on paternity leave Jermain Defoe is England's main man! Sportsmail looks at why Fabio Capello has put his trust in the Tottenham striker[LNB]
