Chelsea, England, Euro 2008, Premier League

England’s struggle through their qualifying group for The European Championships in Austria and Switzerland has been epitomised by the performances of Frank Lampard. Although an upturn in recent results has provided encouragement for Steve McClaren ahead of next summers finals, England have laboured in a group that they should have breezed through with the strength in depth they have at their disposal.

Under the leadership of McClaren, and with Lampard in the team England have played 10, won four drawn three and lost three. Without the Chelsea man in the side they have played four and won four. This statistic seems to speak volumes for Lampard’s recent performances in an England shirt, although further dissections of England’s results over the last 18 months are required to provide a more accurate assessment.

The modern day blame culture that has spread through our society over the last decade or so has now firmly placed itself within the nations’ sporting arenas. The current trend to single out individuals for scathing criticism, rather than apportion collective responsibility for poor team results is a worrying epidemic amongst large sections of England’s support. It can be argued that the catalyst for such repeated public animosity came in a game in St. Etienne nearly ten years ago.

“It has particularly become fashionable to boo certain individuals during a match from the home set of supporters”

Ever since David Beckham’s untimely kick at Diego Simeone during England’s second round match at the World Cup in France in 1998, resulting in him being sent off and possibly costing the side a place in the quarter finals, scapegoats have become commonplace amongst failing national sides. It has particularly become fashionable to boo certain individuals during a match from the home set of supporters. Again, this is nothing new as John Barnes will testify after experiencing particular vitriol during England games whilst Graham Taylor was in charge in the early to mid 1990’s.

More recently it has been Peter Crouch, who received the abuse at Old Trafford before his run of goalscoring and comedy robot dance won the hearts of many England fans, and Owen Hargreaves who was booed at every opportunity during England’s build up to the World Cup in 2002. David Bentley also received a chorus of boos when making his England appearance in a recent friendly after withdrawing from the England under 21’s in the summer due to claims of tiredness.

What makes the current abuse of Frank Lampard even more undecipherable is that he has been voted England’s number one player by the fans in each of the last two seasons. Lampard’ malaise could be apportioned to the events at Stamford Bridge in recent years. England fans, many of whom hail from clubs in the lower echelons of English football, have seen Lampard put in match winning performances for Chelsea consistently over the last three years resulting in a glut of trophies and a second place to Ronaldinho in the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2005. When the player fails to achieve the same success at international level, despite scoring 12 times in 55 appearances, the finger pointing begins and the boos rain down.

This antipathy towards Lampard may also be down to the apparent lack of emotion displayed by the player in the heat of battle. Whilst Wayne Rooney tears about the pitch like a raging bull in times of crisis, often picking up a booking or even getting sent off in the process, Lampard continues to perform in his efficient, laid back manner. This is by no means an indication that the Chelsea player is any less passionate about playing for his country, just that he is more in control of his emotions than some of his England colleagues and it is unfair that he should receive such criticism.

Whether or not this has an effect on Frank Lampard as a player in the future remains to be seen. The recent departure of confidant and mentor Jose Mourinho at Chelsea could see the player depart abroad before too long, if not to further his footballing education then to escape the negativity that he is currently experiencing.

However, the prospect of Lampard returning to the nations’ heart next summer is not unthinkable, as Beckham, Crouch and Hargreaves have all proved. An injury to either of McClaren’s current preferred choice in central midfield of Steven Gerrard or Gareth Barry could still open the door for Lampard to return as a match-winner for England.

Was the treatment of Lampard unfair? Share your views by leaving a comment below.

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