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FRANK LAMPARD has warned his England team-mates: We should all fear the axe after what happened to David Beckham.

Skipper Becks was ditched from the squad when new boss Steve McClaren made his first selection after the World Cup finals.

And midfielder Lamps said: “What happened with Becks is a warning because it could easily be me or Wayne Rooney or John Terry.”

And Chelsea ace Lampard, 28, confessed that all England’s top stars have to prove themselves after Germany.

He said: “I was surprised by what happened to Becks but it’s important that you know you don’t have a divine right to be picked in the first place.

“There have been a lot of people who have said that my place in the team was safe when I was playing well and scoring regularly and others question it when I am not.

“I can honestly say that I never believed my position was safe at any point because the moment you drop your guard is the time your place slips from you.

“The best way to be is to never settle for anything.

“This is England we are talking about — not some team that has only a few good players.

“Everyone in the squad has quality and there are young players pushing upwards all the time as well.

“One of the good things about Steve McClaren’s attitude is that from the moment you arrive in the squad you are under pressure to perform.

“Whether it’s in training, your attitude or even just the way you conduct yourself around the team hotel, you know you are in a pressure situation and that a lot is expected.”

Lampard has had a lot of time to reflect on the World Cup finals and told me in my interview for Radio Five Live that he is a lot more calm now about the criticism he received during the time in Germany.

Lamps is a perfectionist and no one left the tournament with more regrets than he did about the fact he did not score and that the team were eliminated by Portugal in the quarter-finals.

As he prepared for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia on Saturday and Croatia next Wednesday, Lampard insisted that he is optimistic about the future for England.

He said: “I had a few weeks off after the World Cup finals and thought about it a lot.

“There have been moments in my life when I have felt a lot of negativity.

“It happened when I was at West Ham and there have been other moments when I have been very down as a result of things which have happened on the pitch.

“In the past I’ve talked about it to my dad or mum. I’m not so strong that I can just bounce through these things.

“I took a few days to reflect and went over it all in my head.

“I guess I had one of those dark moments in the summer.

“To combat it, I train as hard as I can and come back stronger.”

Lampard also revealed that he called on his experience of growing up in a football family to help him through it.

Dad is Frank Lampard Snr, 58, who played left-back for West Ham from 1974-81 and later became manager Harry Redknapp’s No 2 at Upton Park. He explained: “A lot of it stems from my dad and the way I was brought up.

“I went home and didn’t feel strong enough to cope but I am the kind of person who wants to fight through that kind of thing.

“I know I can’t affect everything that’s going on around me. For all the stick you get as a player, the most I get I dish out to myself.

“If I don’t play well enough I’m harsh on myself. I knew that I hadn’t scored in Germany and that’s what I wanted — to help us to win games.”

Lampard is aware that the negative attitude which has surrounded much of English football has a lot to do with what happened in Germany.

It has not been helped by the bungs inquiry or the spectre of diving which raised its head last weekend when Spurs’ Didier Zokora won a penalty with a theatrical fall.

Lampard condemned both but stuck up for his club and England team-mate Ashley Cole, who has come in for a lot of flak since the publication of his book.

He said: “The World Cup has had an effect on the way football is viewed but we spend too much time speaking about negative stuff, such as bungs and stuff.

“Didi Zokora couldn't say he was caught in that incident last Sunday.

“Diving is a complicated issue but if anyone is outright cheating then it’s not good and I’m sure Spurs fans would not be happy when they see that incident replayed.

“We don’t want to see that in the game. We have pride in this country in that we are honest. It’s too easy to say it’s just because of foreigners coming into our game.

“There is a degree to which that’s true but it’s something we have to address right across the board.

“Ashley has taken stick for what he said in his book. I haven’t read it but now people are casting him as a bad person because of it. That’s just not true.

“He is a nice fella. I knew that when he was at Arsenal and more so now he is with Chelsea. Sometimes people are too quick to judge.”

The Sun

Guest

I didn't think I'd get 50 caps

FRANK LAMPARD wins his 50th England cap tonight admitting he feared his international career was over after just one game.

The Chelsea playmaker will be the most experienced member of an experimental five-man midfield in Croatia.

Lampard has never forgotten how he was singled out for criticism by manager Kevin Keegan after his England debut against Belgium in October 1999.

It was another 16 months before he was called back by Sven Goran Eriksson.

And Lamps admitted: “There were plenty of times when I could never even dream of winning 50 caps.

“I remember being stuck on one cap and watching Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard as the mainstays of midfield.

“It was a case of working hard and waiting for my breakthrough opportunity, but my best game probably didn’t come until the opening match of Euro 2004 against France.

“That was my first taste of a big competition and I will never forget the atmosphere.

Guest

We've nothing against Mr Poll

November 11, 2006

DO you want to know what Frank Lampard and his Chelsea team-mates will say to referee Graham Poll the next time they meet?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

After a week of controversy in the career of England’s top referee in which he sent off John Terry and then James McFadden, you might think Poll was players’ enemy No 1.

You’d be wrong. The extrovert whistler was accused by Chelsea players of saying ‘they needed to be taught a lesson’ during their defeat at Spurs. But Lampard believes that there are lessons to be learned on both sides.

The issue has split the country with some blaming Poll and others calling Jose Mourinho’s side paranoid.

Lamps defended his team to the hilt but insisted there will be no grudge held against Poll by Chelsea.

The England midfielder said: “I will say nothing the next time I see Graham Poll.

“There isn’t anything to say. We have to get back to playing football and there will be no need for me to say anything.

“Graham Poll came to the training ground pre-season and explained the new laws and we have no problem with him.

“A big decision went against us in the Spurs game and that’s it. There is certainly no grudge on our part and I’m sure there won’t be on his.”

Lampard knows referees have a hard enough job but has a few ideas on how relations can be improved between the players and officials.

He joked: “It would help if they got decisions right!

“Seriously, I do see both sides. It’s a difficult job being a referee. I think sometimes they are locked into the laws and feel that’s the way it has to be.

“But it would be a good idea if they came out after games and explain their decisions if there’s been controversy. These are big decisions which are making a difference in people’s careers and lives and it’s important.”

Lampard also believes the fact that officials are all miked up could be put to use and help resolve any misunderstandings on the pitch by recording the conversations.

He said: “If they are miked up then it would be good if it was recorded then we could all hear what that said during the game.

“That would take away some of the doubt about what’s said by players and officials alike. The only way is to work together.

“Referees say that sometimes players talk to them in a bad way but now there are times when a referee talks to a player in a bad way.

“When those things happen then the relationship starts to break down. It’s a two-way street.”

Mourinho and his players have been accused of harbouring a persecution complex because of the way they react to decisions which do not go in their favour.

Lampard, however, points out that when you are competing at the very top of your profession the pressure is intense. Chelsea want to win and that is not a crime.

He said: “People want to criticise Chelsea for complaining when we don’t get a decision but the fact is that we want to win.

“We’re not intentionally being disrespectful to the referee. If we feel a decision is wrong or unfair we have a right to protest the same as any other team.

“We are being honest about what has happened and so should everyone else. We play on the edge, we have to and we can’t be blamed when people constantly ask us for an opinion on the officials.

“Look what happened after Barcelona. It was an incredible game of football and a brilliant result — but the first thing I was asked about in a TV interview was the referee. A lot of things went against us in that match but we kept going and overcame the odds and played good football.

“And all people wanted to ask about was the referee. We don’t control that.”

Chelsea got back to winning ways on Wednesday with a 4-0 Carling Cup thumping of Aston Villa — in which Lampard captained the team in Terry’s absence and scored his sixth goal of the season.

But the champions know they will have to fight harder in the Premiership than their last two title victories.

In the past, Chelsea have led from the front. But there is a belief that having Manchester United as pacesetters could be no bad thing.

Lampard said: “We’ve been fortunate in the past two years that we had big leads at Christmas. That can’t always be the case and United have come out strong this year.

“It’s a slightly different challenge this time because when you’re nine points clear you play with an air of confidence. But that can become over-confidence — maybe it did in a couple of games last season when we had a bad little spell. Now the pressure stays on us and we put more pressure on ourselves.

“One of our great strengths has been to win important games when either United or Arsenal or whoever have lost earlier.

“Even though we are three points behind Man U — and credit to them for the start they have had — I feel a real togetherness and desire to be successful this year and we have to ensure that we use all of our qualities throughout the season.

“It’s a long campaign but we are physically strong and we feel confident and no one has lowered their ambition at Chelsea.

“We know what we want and we want to be champions.”

FRANK LAMPARD will be writing a regular guest column for the new Orange sport blog. Frank will give fans his views on the month’s biggest stories, posting up his video diaries and even taking part in a live web chats! Frank’s blog can be found on the orange website from next week. The blog is an open-house forum where users can leave their comments, suggestions, photos, rants and personal video diaries.

Guest

FRANK LAMPARD went from Chelsea’s stand-in captain to emergency vet this week when his pet French Mastiff, Daphne, gave birth to puppies.

Lamps dashed back from training ahead of Wednesday’s Carling Cup victory over Aston Villa after a call to tell him Daphne was going into labour early.

He revealed: “We were supposed to go to the team hotel after training but I asked the manager if I could pop home for an hour to make sure Daphne was OK.

“Just as I got in she gave birth to the second pup and then the third. It was a beautiful sight — I’d never seen an animal give birth and I’m glad I was there.”

Guest

Lamps Love Pregnant

England footie hero Frank Lampard is to be a dad again. The Chelsea midfielder's stunning Spanish girlfriend Elen Rives is expecting the couple's second baby next June, we can exclusively reveal.

Pals say they are 'delighted' with the happy news. The pair (above) are planning to have the baby at Lond'd exclusive Portland Hospital where stars like supermodel Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham have given birth.
Last year Elen, 29 had the couple's daughter, Luna, delivered by caesarean section there.
Family man Frank, 28, revealed after this summer's World Cup that he and Elen, who live in West London, wanted up to THREE more kids.
The Romford-born star said at the time: "Being a dad is the biggest high, without a doubt. There is nothing like scoring goals-it can be the best feeling and that feeling can last all day long. But being a dad lasts forever."
Millionaire Frank, who earns over 100,000 pounds a week, is also said to be planning a secret wedding to Elen, probably in Spain, after the birth next summer.

www.newsoftheworld.co.uk

Guest

Credit:www.frank-lampard.net

Guest

Chelsea ace Frank Lampard names the day for WAG-free wedding

Chelsea ace Frank Lampard is to marry his girlfriend Elen Rives next summer, the Eye can exclusively reveal.

We hear the pair are off to Elen's home city of Barcelona when the Premiership season ends in May to tie the knot in a tiny, intimate ceremony - the opposite of his team-mate Ashley Cole's wedding three months ago.

However, shortly before they swap wedding bands, Elen is due to give birth to their second child.

Already the mother of 18-month-old daughter Luna, she had better get in the know with the WAG post-pregnancy weight-loss programme to ensure she regains her figure in time for the big day.

Lampard, 27, and Elen are looking at a few venues close to Barcelona, but are understood to be desperate to have a traditional Spanish ceremony in a church before moving to a castle for the reception.

A source close to the west Londonbased couple revealed: "Frank can't wait to marry Elen, but because of his busy schedule it is difficult to get time.

"It is important for Elen to marry in Spain because she is a real home girl and Frank respects that. Getting married in England wouldn't be an option for her."

The Lampard wedding is set to be a million miles away from defender Cole's nuptials earlier this year to Girls Aloud beauty Cheryl Tweedy.

The event in north London, was swarming with footballers and celebrities, so it was perfect for OK! magazine, which bought up the wedding for £2 million.

In contrast, however, Frank and Elen are shunning the England team - with the exception of his best friend and team-mate John Terry and his girlfriend Toni Poole.

The guest list involves only close friends and family - so that means no WAGs, either. Our source continues: "Frank and Elen both got fed up with the whole thing during the World Cup,

Elen doesn't like the way they all try to upstage one another. She and Toni are very close, so she will be the only exception.

"Frank is adamant that the wedding is low-key and they get it all over and done with before anyone knows." Except us, natch!

Guest

Frank's blog & video:
http://blogs.orange.co.uk/sport/2006/11/frank_lampard_o_1.html

Guest

Frank's blog and video:
http://blogs.orange.co.uk/sport/2006/11/frank_lampard_o.html

Guest

Lampard: Jens has no respect

December 13, 2006

FRANK LAMPARD last night blasted Jens Lehmann over a lack of respect.

Arsenal keeper Lehmann branded the Chelsea and England midfielder “a specialist in insulting people” after Sunday’s tense London derby at Stamford Bridge which ended 1-1.

Lamps hit back: “We had words but Lehmann shows no respect to any one on the pitch — and I don’t mean that just from my own perspective.

“He has a way of looking down his nose at people. I certainly didn’t say anything that I feel warrants an explanation.

“For me, it’s all in the heat of battle and nonsense to start talking to the media about it afterwards.

“But the other week myself and my cousin Jamie Redknapp were out to dinner in a London restaurant and Lehmann was sitting just feet from us on another table.

“We acknowledged him and he completely blanked both of us. In fact, when he left, we walked right past our table and didn’t even have the decency to say anything — whether nice or rude!

“Perhaps Lehmann’s more just sensitive than the rest of us.”

Guest

Lampard is an expert at insults

December 12, 2006

JENS LEHMANN last night branded Frank Lampard “a specialist in insulting people.”

Lamps, 28, enjoys a clean-cut image as a family-man England midfielder.

But Arsenal keeper Lehmann insists there is another side to the Chelsea star.

German No 1 Lehmann was involved in a childish shoving match with Blues striker Didier Drogba during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge but insisted Drogba was not the problem.

Gunners hero Lehmann, 37, said: “I like Drogba. I think the handshake between us says it all.

“You can have passion in the game but, as long as you get on with people nicely, it’s OK.

"He didn’t insult me in comparison to his team-mates and I can’t complain with him.

“Some of his team-mates insulted me terribly but Drogba never does that so I have no problem with him.

“Lampard is a specialist in insulting people very badly but Drogba is a nice guy — he doesn’t insult people.”

The bad blood between the two sides following Ashley Cole’s summer switch to the Bridge spilled over into a tunnel bust-up between the England left-back and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas after Sunday’s showdown.

The pair had a number of verbal exchanges during the game and, at one point, Cole called for Fabregas to be booked for a push on Drogba. Lamps had to step in and calm his team-mate.

At the final whistle Fabregas twice ignored Cole as they made their way off but, as SunSport exclusively revealed yesterday, the simmering tension eventually boiled over and the players had to be pulled apart by Blues backroom staff.

Lehmann, meanwhile, insists Arsenal were the better side.

He added: “We played well and deserved a win. When you compare the style of the teams, we were far above them.”

Guest

Chelsea ace and the senorita

Romp ... Montse Lucas had hotel date, and inset, Frank Lampard

CHELSEA ace Frank Lampard has been accused of cheating on his fiancée with a Spanish chauffeuse.

The England midfielder bedded blonde driver Montse Lucas before a Champions League tie in Barcelona.

Montse, 34, turned up at his hotel to collect tickets for the October 31 match against the Spanish champs.

But she told how she got her tickets and a lot more as Frank seduced her in his luxury suite at the Juan Carlos hotel in the Catalan capital.

Montse — six years older than Lampard, 28 — said last night: “Frank started to show me pictures of his baby girl Luna and her mother Elen Rives. I loved the fact that he was so proud of his daughter, it’s something any woman finds very sweet.

Together ... Frank and Elen at a London fashion show in September

“But he seemed quite drunk, and I couldn’t tell if it was lust for me or he’d been drinking a lot. One minute he was showing me photos of his family, the next we were in bed.”

Montse, who has fallen hard for Lamps, exclusively told The Sun: “I fell in love with Frank and still dream there may be a future for us.”

She first met Frank when she was assigned to pick up a group of executives from Barcelona Airport at 10.30pm on October 21.

She was instructed to drive them to the ultra-glam Hotel Arts, where her firm Golden Wheels is based.

Lampard, who was filming an ad in the city next day, was travelling with his agent Steve Kutner.

Montse said: “I didn’t pay too much attention to Frank and I certainly didn’t recognise him — although I thought he looked nice.”

She dropped them at the hotel and waited while they freshened up. When Lamps and the agent returned, she took them to a bar and restaurant called the Carpe Diem Lounge Club. She drove to the hotel and waited for them to call. Shortly after 1am, she got a text saying, ‘Can you pick us up and meet us at the club. Are you coming in for a drink’?

Montse, short for Montserrat, went on: “As I sat down, a couple of girls asked to have their picture taken with Frank. I didn’t think too much of it.

Passion ... Montse had champagne romp with ace

“I glanced across and saw that Steve looked tired and bored.

“I asked him why he didn’t just go to bed and he said he was Frank’s manager and that he had to look after him all the time. I realised then that Frank probably was a footballer, but it didn’t faze me because I don’t impress easily.”

At 2.15am, the trio walked back to Lampard’s hotel. Exhausted Lampard went to bed and Montse left them to get some sleep with a promise of two match tickets and agent Steve’s number. As Montse had worked the late shift the previous evening, another driver looked after Lamps in the morning.

His group then went straight from the railway station back to the airport instead of the original plan of travelling via the Hotel Arts.

Montse said: “It was a fun night but I had prepared myself not to see Frank again. I was sad, but he lived in London and I lived in Barcelona.

“My only hope was they’d promised to get tickets for me and my nine-year-old nephew. I texted the agent asking about them. I got a text back to say they would try to organise something and, if possible, would leave them at the King Juan Carlos Hotel where the team was based.

“I arrived and there were no tickets. I decided to go to Frank’s room. I was dressed entirely in black — high heels, shorts, a chemise top, jacket and matching lingerie.”

But when she arrived at his room, she discovered the ace had more than giving her tickets on his mind.

She added: “The door was open so I went in and found Frank in his Chelsea tracksuit. Frank opened the champagne and brought a large glass for each of us. I was sitting on a sofa. He sat at the end of it.” They chatted for a while, then Montse thanked him for the tickets and said she was going to leave.

She said: “He insisted I stay. He moved closer and asked if I was dating. I told him I had split from my boyfriend of two years in February.

“There was an electric buzz of anticipation in the room. I wasn’t sure if we’d make love as it was so close to such an important game. He poured even more champagne.

“He asked me to stay, grabbed my hand and kissed me. Then he lifted me up so that I was straddling him.

“He looked at me and said, ‘I want to be with you. The first time I saw you I wanted to be with you’.

“So I let him take my top off to reveal the black bra underneath. He is a professional athlete who trains every day, so he has a great body. Every time he kissed me, I closed my eyes and my head was spinning.

“I gave him a butterfly kiss, fluttering my lashes on his cheek. Then he asked if I wanted to make love and I melted into his arms. We made love very slowly. I think it took him longer to finish because of the drink.”

Sighing with pleasure at the memory, Montse continued: “I lay in his arms and he asked if I had enjoyed it as much as him. But then five minutes later he was ready for more.

“Afterwards I wished him good luck for the game the next day but said I wanted Barca to win. He found that funny. I left him sleeping.” Montse gave away the tickets and watched the game on telly. Lamps scored and was booked in the 2-2 draw.

Montse said: “I’ve tried to contact Frank but only had his agent’s number. Frank has Elen and Luna and it was so obvious that they are the people who really matter to him.”

Frank Lampard was unavailable to comment last night due to Chelsea’s match at Newcastle. But his agent told us that the matter was now in the hands of Mr Lampard’s lawyers.

“I could tell the men were up for a lively evening, so I suggested we went to a busier part of the club.Frank had maybe three beers while I was there and was certainly quite merry. At one point a Madonna track came on. He turned to me and said, ‘You don’t know who I am, do you?”

“He told me he was a famous football player and I laughed and replied, ‘Yes, and I’m Madonna’.

Guest

Grim Frank's left out in the cold

December 22, 2006

GRIM-faced football star Frank Lampard looks like he’s feeling the chill yesterday — just hours after we revealed that a Spanish beauty is claiming he bedded her.

Chelsea ace Frank, 28, wrapped up and clutched his wallet and mobile as he set off for training from the luxury home in West London where he lives with fiancée Elen Rives.

An onlooker said: “Frank didn’t look happy at all. Elen wasn’t with him — I’m sure they’ve got some talking to do.”

Yesterday blonde Montse Lucas, 34 — a Spaniard like Elen — told how Frank seduced her before Chelsea’s Champions League game at Barcelona in October.

She said: “One minute he was showing me photos of his family, the next we were in bed.”

Guest

Neighbours cry foul on Lamps

December 30, 2006

ENGLAND star Frank Lampard plays really dirty — by dumping a mountain of rubbish outside his posh home.

The Chelsea ace’s foul littering following a massive family Christmas party has left his neighbours disgusted.

Lampard, 28, could even face prosecution by his local council after the junk spilled on to the road and obstructed traffic.

It has built up since Christmas, when Lampard and fiancee Elen Rives, 29, invited friends and relatives to his £4.5million home in Chelsea, West London. He even got celebrity chef Marco Pierre White in to do the catering.

But it meant piles of rubbish. Neighbour John Hancock said: “There must be 50 bags and boxes piled up. It took up a whole side of the road.

“Nobody can drive past without swerving on to the other side of the road. The pile is foul and could attract rats. It’s an eyesore and a filthy way to behave.

“Surely with all his millions Frank could afford a skip.”

A spokesman for Lampard said: “It’s Christmas and all Frank and Elen have done is put out their rubbish.

“It may be a big pile but that’s because they had such a massive family Christmas.

“They had lots of children in the house and wrapped lots of presents.

“Every family throws their rubbish out.”

For pics:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006600492,00.html

Guest

Stay off the rink, Lampard

January 24, 2007

SOCCER ace Frank Lampard is heading to the Dancing On Ice rink to support pal Kay Burley — but Chelsea have BANNED him from skating.

The England star will cheer her on as she trains tomorrow — following her mauling on Saturday’s ITV1 show when judge Jason Gardiner blasted her performance.

Chelsea bosses have forbidden Lamps, 28, from joining her on the ice at Elstree studios in case of injury. A pal of Sky News anchorwoman Kay, 46, said: “She’s been feeling pretty down. She only wanted to have some fun and raise cash for Macmillan cancer nurses.

“Kay’s known Frank for ages. He’s going to give her some encouragement. He would have wanted to have a lark about with Kay but Chelsea have told him there’s no way he can go on the ice. It’s in his contract he can’t do dangerous sports.”

Kay will be training with ice partner Fred Palascak.

Meanwhile pop star rival Duncan James, 28, has been toning himself up by taking pilates classes.

He joked: “My bum has never been so tight.”