Lampard: It was a wake-up call
Frank Lampard has admitted that England were given a wake up call.
Frank Lampard has admitted that England were given a wake up call by Denmark ahead of the World Cup next summer.The Chelsea midfielder was not at his best as England crashed to a 4-1 defeat in Denmark, courtesy of a woeful second half performance.
Lampard admits that the quality in England's squad is meaningless unless they play well as a unit.
"We were bad," admitted Lampard. "It was a case of two separate halves.
"We played pretty well in first half, and if anyone was going to be in front at half time it was us.
"But we came out and didn't perform in the second. We didn't play well, we didn't do the right things and we didn't do the basics we had been doing to an extent in the first half.
"The only plus point is it's a friendly and we need to look at that result and turn it round."
Lampard agreed that it may well have served to deflate expectations over England's chance in next year's World Cup.
"Were talking about something a year away," added Lampard.
"We've got great quality, but it doesn't matter what quality you have if you don't do the basic things.
"We cannot afford to play like that in qualifiers.
"We have had a real reminder at what is needed at this level."
