SPORTS: Frank Lampard and Luke Shaw to start for England

By Jun23,2014

Frank Lampard and Luke Shaw will both start England’s final World Cup group game against Costa Rica on Tuesday.

Roy Hodgson, whose side cannot reach the last 16, is also set to select Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, 20.

Chelsea midfielder Lampard, 36, will captain the team in what may prove his final cap, while Southampton left-back Shaw, 18, will replace Leighton Baines.

“I’ll pick the side with a view to making certain all the players get some minutes,” said manager Hodgson.

The only exception to that will be Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is still suffering from the knee injury he sustained in the friendly draw against Ecuador.

Hodgson said: “Alex had a slight recurrence of the knee problem and will be out. The hamstring injury to Leighton Baines has ruled him out, too.”

_75730755_hi022611585

England fielded the same starting XI in the Group D defeats by Italy and Uruguay but will be along unfamiliar lines against opponents who have already secured a place in the knockout stages.

“If you interpret that as planning for the future I would understand but basically it’s not planning the future and it’s certainly not sentiment,” said Hodgson, whose captain Steven Gerrard will play some part in what may yet be his last international.

“I’m making certain a group of players I personally believe have done everything they possibly could to give us some success on the field, coming home far too early and bitterly disappointed, get a chance at least to say ‘that I wasn’t just there for the ride’.”

Only 15 of the 23-man squad have featured in matches in Brazil.

 

Hodgson said he hoped his performance as England manager would be judged on his contribution as a whole rather than the opening two group results, which have caused his side to be eliminated from the competition.

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has already confirmed Hodgson will remain in charge until 2016.

“I’m very pleased to have that backing,” said Hodgson. “Scapegoats are always necessary in times of failure and one understands that after being in football for a long time.

“One would like to think that the work that you do is judged over a long period of time. You’d like to think that the people who are judging you are judging you on your ability, what you bring to the job, what qualities you have and what you can do for them going forward.

“If it’s fortunate the position that I’ve found myself in, then I’ll accept it’s fortunate.”

By

Related Post

Leave a Reply