Lampard threat to old order

Road to Euro 2004: Fitful form of England's midfield untouchables shown up by the charge of the young brigade

They've always been a decent bunch at Portman Road. Goes back to the days of the Cobbolds, a byword for generosity and fair play. Today, they're still liberal in bestowing praise where it is due, and frequently when it isn't.

True to tradition, they stood and applauded at the interval on Wednesday night after a half in which the statistics read as follows: England (remember, apart from the absence of the injured Gary Neville and Sol Campbell, this was close to Sven Goran Eriksson's first-choice team): chances created: none, one penalty scored. Croatia: chances created: six, all spurned. Fortunately, there were no Sukers or Boksics around.

True, the break produced a reinvigorated England, but it was not until the wannabes were introduced that we witnessed anything like the kind of exuberance the spectators were entitled to expect. Fortunately for Eriksson, results remain a coach's lifeblood, and if your team conclude a game with a flourish then you tend to be forgiven for what has preceded it.

Predictably, the criticism in the aftermath of the 3-1 defeat of Croatia tended to be directed at the rearguard, although John Terry will be unlucky if an authoritative display does not merit him to be considered, at the very least, first in line of succession to Rio Ferdinand and Campbell.

Campbell's reported demeanour earlier in the week was not what one might anticipate from an England player, and David Beckham emphasised that point when asked whether he sympathised with the Arsenal man over the charge being brought against him by the FA: "That's football; there's ups and downs and Sol knows that," retorted Beckham. "Sol's a big enough player and person to handle things like that." He added: "Hopefully, Sol will be back for the Macedonia game, although JT [John Terry] was great tonight; he played really well. Of course, I want Sol to stay [with England]."

Eriksson was similarly appreciative of Campbell's replacement, describing Terry as "super, always there with his head or his feet. He's one of those young players who grew most last season".

But what of his midfield? "Diamonds are forever" appears to be the Eriksson mantra, both in his scrutiny of his players as individuals in his long-term strategy, and as a shape. Only an hour after Wednesday's contest, the England coach declared: "I should be extremely surprised if I ever dropped Paul Scholes." This after we witnessed the Manchester United man in fitful mood, summoning just one opportunity on target in his 77 minutes on the field. Despite being a rare absentee in England's last 25 games, he has not scored for his country in two years.

In truth, Steven Gerrard and Beckham could not be said to have attained the zenith of their powers either. The former was again guilty of too many overhit passes, and while it may be considered treasonable to detract from the latter's contribution - after all, he did score the penalty opener and did provide the cross for Michael Owen to head the second - the statistics tell us that over a third of his passes went to the opposition.

Those three midfield untouchables accumulated just two scoring chances. The likelihood of any of them finding the net from open play was about as high as spotting a sober teenager in Faliraki.

Yet who did the England coach single out for criticism afterwards? Joe Cole, the young man who, in Eriksson's estimation, is "like a diamond you've got to polish". The Swede, rarely negative about his players, was apparently concerned about Cole's desire to take on opponents when the coach believed caution was in order, although you can understand the Chelsea midfielder's desperate attempts to provide convincing evidence of his creative forte on this rare opportunity to do so.

Eriksson's reasoning has always been that his prized performers will come good on the night, when the stakes are higher than in this preparatory game. Evidence from the competitive games in which he has been in charge (10 victories, five draws and only one defeat, against Brazil in the World Cup) suggests he is correct. Beckham and Gerrard are invaluable components because of their sheer appetite for the game, regardless of other factors.

Still, one has to question whether any player should feel their selection is almost preordained. It is surely unhealthy, both for those members of the protected species, and for those on the periphery. Joe Cole may well require time to mature; so too Kieron Dyer, who still exasperates as much as he as he exhilarates, although he may yet demonstrate his value in certain circumstances supporting a lone forward. But Frank Lampard, perhaps galvanised by the transformation at his club this summer, is a performer who, by any recent valuation, is a serious contender for an England central-midfield role. Against Croatia, his cultured feet delivered some telling passes and his goal, scored from 25 yards, was evidence of another crucial facet of his game.

"He's stronger and stronger and scored a marvellous goal. And he's still very young," was how Eriksson assessed Lampard. It is to be hoped that, in bolstering through lean times those on whom he has depended in his first 30 internationals, the Swede does not ignore the claims of those like Lampard who are understandably crying out for attention.