The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Lampard targets 2014 World Cup and more time at Chelsea Posted: 08 Feb 2013 05:09 AM PST  Lampard scores the winning goal past Paulinho as England beat Brazil 2-1 in their international friendly at Wembley stadium in London February 6, 2013. — Reuters pic "The World Cup is certainly a target for me and I will try to keep playing at a good enough level to get there," Lampard was quoted as saying in British media today. "It's a target. I won't retire from England before that, put it that way," added Lampard, who scored the winner in the 2-1 friendly international victory over Brazil on Wednesday. "If I can continue playing for Chelsea and contributing here with England, whether it's starting or not, and as a valuable squad member, and do my bit when I play, then the World Cup is getting a bit nearer." According to Lampard's agent, the 34-year-old player was told by the European champions late last year that under no circumstances would he be offered an extension on his contract at the end of the season. Lampard, who joined in 2001 and whose contract runs out in June, is the London club's second highest goal-scorer with 197 strikes and is closing on Bobby Tambling's record of 202. The midfielder, who has scored nine times for club and country in his past 14 games, also has 27 international goals in his 94 England caps. Despite his form, his future with Chelsea remains unclear and he has been linked to Major League Soccer (MLS), though England manager Roy Hodgson said after the Brazil game that the midfielder should stay in Europe for a chance at a World Cup spot. "Maybe the World Cup is within reach but I'm not getting carried away. I know how football is," said Lampard. "It can change from squad to squad and when you get to the age of 34, 35 in the summer, people do look upon things differently and fair enough. "I'm very understanding of where I am at in my career." Lampard said that, with England facing some tough qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil next year, he hoped to keep fit and keep impressing Hodgson. "I believe he is the type of manager that if you are playing well enough — whatever your age, wherever you are — he will pick you and I hope that's the case. "I've got a sniff of the World Cup. It's only a sniff because it's a year away and England aren't even there so I shouldn't get carried away. "But I'll keep performing to my best and whatever decisions I take, I'll take with a view across the board to make myself happy, to try and play the best football I can." Lampard's Chelsea, third in the Premier League, play strugglers Wigan Athletic tomorrow while England face minnows San Marino and then Group H pacesetters Montenegro in qualifiers on March 22 and 26. — Reuters |
| Young boost for United before busy week Posted: 08 Feb 2013 04:50 AM PST  Ashley Young challenges Brazil's Oscar, turning out for England in their international friendly at Wembley stadium in London, February 6, 2013. — Reuters pic Midfielder Michael Carrick is also available while defender Phil Jones should have shaken off a bout of shingles that also bothered Ferguson, who was annoyed that news of the illness had been made public by England under-21 coach Stuart Pearce. "We thought it was a doctor's confidence so we are disappointed in that, it's not anything serious for the boy, it's mild condition, he should be OK," Ferguson told a news conference. The return of Young, who was injured against Liverpool on January 13, is a major boost for United at the start of a busy week in which Ferguson's side travel to Real Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday. The side then host Reading in an FA Cup fifth round match on February 18. Before those two dates there is Everton, who are flying high in fifth and whose fightback in a thrilling 4-4 draw in this fixture last season proved costly for United, who lost out on the title on goal difference to Manchester City. "(We were) 4-2 up with seven or eight minutes to go, it was unexpected and you've got to anticipate unexpected in the run-in but that was a bad blow for us," Ferguson said. "That definitely cost us the league, there is no question of that. That will never happen again." Moyes praised United have a nine-point lead over Manchester City with 62 points from 25 games although by the time they host David Moyes' side on Sunday (1600 GMT) the gap could have been narrowed as the champions play at Southampton the day before. Everton are 20 points behind Ferguson's side and involved in the tussle for a top-four finish and the lucrative business of Champions League football despite a much smaller budget than many teams around them. Ferguson was full of praise for the job fellow Scot David Moyes had done in more than a decade at Everton. "David Moyes has got a very strong unit at Everton, very experienced and their record — they've only lost three games this season," he said. Inspired by the goals of Marouane Fellaini, who headed in the winner in the 1-0 victory over United at Goodison Park on the opening weekend of the season and has netted 10 times in the league this term, Everton pose a stiff test for United. "They are a difficult opponent," Ferguson said. "They have got a genuine chance of finishing in the top four. "I think the race for the title is between ourselves and City but after that you've got Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton and even now Liverpool." — Reuters |
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