Frank Lampard’s International Career Retrospective

Today, our legendary top goal scorer of all time in club history is set to get his 100th cap against Ukraine in Kiev’s Olympic stadium in World Cup qualifier game. Celebrating this occasion, We would like to pay our tribute here at 360 by looking back on Lampard’s international career beginning from his debut to all his significant moments. Frank Lampard is set to become the 8th English player to reach a century of high scale matches by wearing the famous shirt of the Three Lions.
DEBUT 

Frank Lampard made his first England debut when Kevin Keagan handed him his first cap against Belgium in October 1999. Lampard was selected on the strength of his early season form for West Ham and he would go on to score 14 times for the Hammers in 1999-2000. The 21-year-old played 76 minutes of the match, which England won courtesy of goals from Alan Shearer and Jamie Redknapp, before being replaced by Chelsea’s Dennis Wise.
The youngster at the time never looked back since then by delivering key performances for his club at the time West Ham before getting more caps and later on transferring to Chelsea in 2001. The rest at club level is history as we should call it as he cemented himself in Chelsea’s history by breaking countless records and racking up trophies through out the next decade.
Euro 2004

Frank Lampard’s first international tournament came at Euro 2004 in Portugal were he impressed with some influential goals and key performances through out the tournament. He was coming from a stellar season at Chelsea under Claudio Rainieri, the manager who brought him to Chelsea in also the first season under Roman Abramovich’s stewardship.
38 minutes into the opening game with France, he jumped highest to head home a whipped David Beckham free-kick and give England a lead they dramatically tossed away in the last five minutes. Lampard continued to excel during the tournament, also scoring against Croatia in the group stages and proving himself as a creative dynamo in England’s midfield.
Lampard leveled the scores at 2-2 during extra time and also converted his spot-kick, but ultimately to no avail. UEFA did however recognize Lampard’s performances, naming him in their team of the tournament.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2006

After scoring the winner in the decisive qualifier match against Poland in a year he finished 2nd in the Ball’n Dor and FIFA World Player of the year (currently Ball’n Dor), Lampard went on to 2006 world cup with full confidence after winning a back to back EPL title with Chelsea just two weeks earlier. That world cup in Germany saw the England team not perform to expectation as the so called, “GOLDEN GENERATION” were compiled together by Sven Goran Erickson.
Frank Lampard was voted England’s best player for 2004 for his performances at Euro 2004 and he also won the award in 2005 by helping his country qualify to the World cup in Germany by scoring deceive goals. After having an exceptional matches with Three lions all the way till the quarter final, their penalty nightmare against Portugal continued as Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher missed in the shoot out as the Selcao advanced to the semi-finals.
MISSING OUT ON EURO 2008 
Despite twice being England’s player of the year, Lampard became the focal point of negative attention when some England fans jeered him after coming off the bench in this Euro 2008 qualifier. The perception was that he put in more effort for club Chelsea than for England, but his teammates sprung to his defense.

‘For me he’s one of the best players in the world and doesn’t deserve it,’ said Joe Cole at the time.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010

Lampard once again rolled into a World cup tournament with a huge boost of confidence after winning a domestic double with Chelsea scoring more than 22 goals in the league by itself which was greater than many of the strikers that year including Liverpool’s Torres at the time. But, despite an amazing displays by Frank by being deployed as an attacking midfielder behind Wayne Rooney, England were once again unlucky on a big stage at a big tournament in World Cup.
The greatest Lampard goal that never was. Having just seen Matthew Upson halve the arrears against old rivals Germany, Lampard thought he’d equalised with a superb finish past Manuel Neuer. But despite the ball cannoning off the crossbar and bouncing a meter behind the line, no goal was awarded, extinguishing hopes of a comeback. Germany went on to win 4-1 and the incident played a major part in the introduction of goal-line technology.
MISSING OUT ON EUROS THROUGH INJURY…LEADING UP TO CENTURY OF CAPS

Frank LAMPARD continued to perform well for the national team and club despite being dropped in favor of new bloods like Jack Wilshiere a couple of times, he managed to remain a first choice for Hodgson who was appointed before the Euros. Lampard then suffered an injury that ruled him out of the tournament in training session with England. An injury marred what could have a pivotal end with England doing well at the Euros right after Chelsea were crowned Champions Of Europe in May.
At a time when his Chelsea career was uncertain, Lampard continued to perform for England, coming off the bench at half-time to curl home an exquisite winner against Brazil. It was England’s first win over the five-time World Cup winners in 23 years and a major highlight of the Hodgson era… so far.
FINALLY….100TH CAP. 
Now, after 14 years of blood and sweat poured onto the pitch from the midfielders hard work and grit, Super Frank is set to earn his 100th cap against Ukraine in Kiev’s Olympic stadium in the WCQ match. Whether he will start as a captain or not will be known shortly but, he has said he is determined to do well and help the national team to a victory as he has worn the armband quite a few times before.
This incredible achievement and accolade is a well deserved honor for a legend that never gets tired of breaking records and making history time and time again. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU FRANK AND CONGRATS ON A CENTURY OF CAP FOR ENGLAND!

Hope you enjoyed it and thanks for reading. Like, share and let us know what you think of this achievement for a true legend.