Lampard OUT

[Jaspa]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18265377

Frank Lampard ruled out of England's Euro 2012 squad

Frank Lampard is out of England's Euro 2012 campaign with a thigh injury suffered in training on Wednesday.

The news was confirmed after the Chelsea midfielder, 33, was examined by medical staff after a scan.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson will be called into the squad, subject to agreement from Uefa's medical team.

"It's a huge blow for the team, especially coming after the loss of another senior player in Gareth Barry," said manager Roy Hodgson.

"The fact that the doctor cannot guarantee Frank could take part in any of the group matches means we have to replace him in the central midfield area.

"Apart from it being a huge blow to me and the team, I'm especially disappointed for Frank himself," he added.

"He has been in very good form and was looking forward to the tournament. He made a huge contribution towards us qualifying for the Euros so it is cruel to be forced out through injury just before the tournament."

Chelsea's Lampard is one of the most experienced players Hodgson had to call upon, with 90 caps.

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty believes Lampard's absence will be a big loss to the squad.

"Frank Lampard has occasionally been a maligned figure for England - but his loss from the Euro 2012 squad will be a heavy blow for manager Roy Hodgson," he said.

"Lampard has maturity, experience and continues to be a winner as proved by his vital role in Chelsea's Champions League and FA Cup victories.

"He may not have started England's first Euro 2012 game against France but his presence and professionalism around the squad is always beneficial and he would have been determined to force his way into the side."

Manager Roy Hodgson is already without another experienced midfielder in Barry, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a groin injury in the 1-0 win over Norway.

If Henderson, 21, is allowed to replace Lampard then Liverpool will be the most represented club in Hodgson's squad, with five, despite a disappointing season which saw them eighth in the Premier League.

I think there are pro's and con's to this

It would have been good to see Lampard have a run out in what is most probably his last major international tournament, his ' goal ' in 2010 adds another little sense of injustice.

Saying that, it would be good to give a few others a crack, and gives us a little room to breathe in the centre of midfield what with the Lampard-Gerrard saga.

I think its a loss, and his performance in the Champions League Finale showed he can still be an essential part of a top team at a high stress moment, and proved his quality

Still Onwards and Upwards

[ozleicester]

Huge loss.

On the upside, even more now, this England side has no expectation on it at all, therefore...im tipping us to win it

[Tielemans63]

He's been replaced by Jordan Henderson.

There's everything that's wrong with English football right there. He's been probably the worst but of the season and yet it's his huge price tag that has probably got him his place in the squad.

Leon Britten, Jake Livermore, Jay Spearing & Leon Osman have all had far more productive seasons, what they don't have is a vastly inflated price tag.

http://www.eplindex.com/14251/england-best-xi-part-4-uncapped-players-opta-stats-analysis.html/2

Rant over.

[Captain...]

He's been replaced by Jordan Henderson.

There's everything that's wrong with English football right there. He's been probably the worst but of the season and yet it's his huge price tag that has probably got him his place in the squad.

Leon Britten, Jake Livermore, Jay Spearing & Leon Osman have all had far more productive seasons, what they don't have is a vastly inflated price tag.

http://www.eplindex....analysis.html/2

Rant over.

Leon Britten's got talent, the others have been fairly average really, but you are right Henderson doesn't deserve to be there when some talented players, like Adam Johnson and Micah Richards aren't.

It is annoying that someone like Carrick refused to be in the reserve squad, not world class, but much better than Henderson.

[davieG]

This comp will give us a view of the medium term prospects (2014 WC) for English success.

[stripeyfox]

Leon Britten's got talent, the others have been fairly average really, but you are right Henderson doesn't deserve to be there when some talented players, like Adam Johnson and Micah Richards aren't.

It is annoying that someone like Carrick refused to be in the reserve squad, not world class, but much better than Henderson.

Wonder if he has got the X Factor though?

[Royston.]

Major blow conidering he was a pivotal figure in the success of tournaments in the last decade.

Still arguably the best midfielder England have on paper but I dont think we'll miss him.

[Facecloth]

Major blow conidering he was a pivotal figure in the success of tournaments in the last decade.

Still arguably the best midfielder England have on paper but I dont think we'll miss him.

What success?

I'm glad he's out. He's not suited to international football. His whole meander around waiting for chances and a late run into the box might work for Chelsea but you need players to dictate play at International level, not wait for things to happen. He might score goals and be England's best midfielder on paper, but Gerrard is England's best on the green stuff and that's where it matters.

[Kitchandro]

I was like Then 5 seconds later they said who'd replaced him and I was like

Lampard does have experience of major tournaments though, experience at failing in them, something Henderson will pick up pretty quickly I'm sure.

Lampard is barely a loss at all, he's been festering in our midfield for too long, I can count the amount of good England games he's had since 2004 on 3 fingers.