Lampard closing in on milestone

Frank Lampard admits he will feel a sense of vindication if he wins his 100th cap in England's crucial World Cup qualifier against Ukraine tonight.

 

Despite being one of the most successful goalscoring midfielders English football has ever produced, Lampard, a member of a generation of players regarded as underachievers at international level, has not received universal acclaim.
Off the pitch he is intelligent, eloquent and diplomatic; and on it he has scored a record 204 goals for Chelsea and 29 goals in 99 appearances for England. But all the same, there has been plenty of criticism to deal with throughout his career.
As recently as last year there were suggestions he was past his best as Chelsea stalled on offering the 35-year-old a new contract.
But Lampard responded in style, just as he had done earlier in his England career when fans at Wembley booed him during a particularly difficult time in 2007 - a time when the midfielder admits he briefly considered retiring from international football. Lampard also admits if England, currently top of Group H as they prepare to face third-placed Ukraine, reach the World Cup in Brazil it is likely to be his farewell tournament.
"Realistically I think so," he said.