SOCCER WORLD CUP England v Kazakhstan:A PROBLEM involving just two people is a far from private matter where England are concerned. Frank Lampard's relationship with Steven Gerrard has been debated obsessively and a view has developed that further counselling will be of no help. It is, apparently, time for a divorce.
"You get the best out of me when I'm playing with a disciplined midfielder who gives me that freedom to play box-to-box," Gerrard said last month.
The remark suggested Lampard could not be a natural partner for him. Gerrard was quick to point out that the Chelsea midfielder would also prefer to be paired with someone suited to the holding role.
The Liverpool captain aired his view just before England set off for Zagreb and he was not part of the trip because of injury. Without him, Lampard combined perfectly with Gareth Barry and England beat Croatia triumphantly.
Subsequently Lampard has been in the best form of his career for Chelsea. The immediate conclusion was Gerrard would have to nestle among the substitutes for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan on Saturday and in Belarus next Wednesday.
It may be, however, that the issue is not so simple.
In Joe Cole's absence there could be a role for Gerrard on the left. Conceivably the Liverpool player may even be at right-back or further forward on that flank. England manager Fabio Capello, with his occasional allusions to the small number of Englishman from which he has to choose, might feel someone of Gerrard's gifts is never to be marooned on the sidelines.
The trouble is the Anfield midfielder and Lampard not only have a common instinct to go on the attack but seem, accidentally, to prevent one another from playing to their best. They might thrive in tandem on Saturday against a feeble Kazakhstan but it would be harsh indeed to dispense with Barry, who achieved such status in Zagreb.
Despite being picked together in the starting line-up for 38 matches, Gerrard and Lampard have been the central pairing in a midfield quartet on only 20 occasions, the most recent of which was the win over Austria in November 2007.
Four days later Barry was stationed between them in the defeat by Croatia at Wembley that cost England a place at Euro 2008.
Lampard now reckons the side would have qualified if he or Gerrard had brought club form into the national team. There was a laissez-faire assumption for a while that the solution would emerge naturally.
The regularity of club matches is more likely to foster a rapport between players but the highest level of international matches tests a partnership rigorously.
"It is something that should work," said Lampard.
"I don't think we are stupid players and I don't think we are egotistical. We both care passionately about playing for our country and we both want to play well."
Lampard even attempted to rally with the assertion that he and Gerrard had sometimes been an effective unit. Pressed for examples, he had the grace to smile.
"I just can't think of any at the moment," he said. "To be honest, I'll be straight with you, it's been a while."
This is exactly the kind of structural problem that Capello would pride himself on solving. There are innumerable systems to be proposed but the time remaining to find a definitive answer is limited. "Let's hope it's not too long because we are not getting any younger," said Lampard, a wry 30-year-old.
• Capello held a team meeting with his squad last night at their Hertfordshire hotel to discuss the challenge posed by Kazakhstan and he plans to conduct a double training session today. Captain, John Terry, should have recovered from a back niggle to participate, with Ashley Cole, Wes Brown and Stewart Downing all expected to take part before an 11-a-side practice match tomorrow.
Guardian Service
Determined Crouch delighted to be back in the fold
PETER CROUCH believes he has returned to the England fold stronger for the disappointment of being omitted from Fabio Capello's more recent squads, although the Portsmouth striker had initially feared team's demolition of Croatia in Zagreb last month might wreck his own chances of a swift recall, writes Dominic Fifield .
The former Liverpool forward boasts 14 goals from his 28 caps and was included in the Italian's first few get-togethers only to fall out of favour in the autumn as he settled in back at Fratton Park following his €11.6 million move from Merseyside.
Four goals in Pompey's last three games, including a brace against the Portuguese side Guimaraes which secured progress into the Uefa Cup group stage, have offered timely confirmation of a return to form and earned reinstatement to the national set-up.
"It was disappointing to miss out before but I didn't want to let my head drop," said Crouch.
"I'm the type of player who doesn't sulk but wants to work hard for my club. I never felt the door had been closed on me for good. Mr Capello has shown that, if you do it at club level, you'll be back in. The fact that I was in the first two squads that the manager named suggested he rated me.
"So, when I was left out, I looked at myself and tried to work out what I'd been doing wrong. I tried to work hard and, personally, I feel I'm playing better football now. I think that warranted the recall.
"If I keep up that club form, I'll continue to be in the squad.
It was frustrating not to be involved last time and I watched the game in Croatia and was thinking: 'They're doing fantastically well, so do they need me?' When England play so well without you, you do wonder.
"You're desperate to be a part of it. But I always felt deep down that, if I did well for Portsmouth, I'd be back in. I'm pleased with my record for my country and I was confident enough in what I can offer."
