FRANK LAMPARD has told England’s players that silence is golden if they want to earn a World Cup spot.
The former Three Lions great is advising Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad that mum’s the word when it comes to the German’s team selection.
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Frank Lampard is in charge of Championship leaders CoventryCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Thomas Tuchel is looking to mastermind World Cup gloryCredit: Getty
The Three Lions’ chief has an array of attacking talent at his disposal and Lampard, who spent the majority of his 106-cap international career being shoehorned into a midfield with Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, knows all about compromise.
And he suggested that keeping schtum worked for him — as he went on to score 29 international goals and played in three World Cups and one European Championship as part of the ‘golden generation’.
He said: “I just got on with it. You’re a professional, you get on with it — you are playing different ways, you respect the manager and you crack on. You can have your own opinions — but I tended to keep mine to myself and think about what could I do best if I was asked to play.
“The truth is, I never really played for England much like I played for Chelsea.
“There were times, like in 2004, when Sven-Goran Eriksson was there when I played at the top of a diamond — that wasn’t my ideal, either — but if you are representing your country and the manager’s got an idea, you just go with it.
“That was my story and it’s been documented and people talk about it many years later with a different view to how it felt at the time,
“They just sort of say, ‘It did work or it didn’t work’. Sometimes it did, sometimes it didn’t. But I’m not interested in that conversation.
“Personally, I got on with it, as did Stevie and Scholesy.”
Lampard is in a unique position to comment now he has crossed over to frontline management.
His Coventry side are sitting top of the Championship this season, having scored an impressive 27 goals this season as he attempts to orchestrate a return to the Premier League.
Emotional Frank Lampard struggles through Sky Sports interview after Coventry’s gut-wrenching play-off defeat
He believes that times may have changed and that Tuchel might operate a more relaxed policy.
The German has plenty of options up front — all of whom will make a claim to start alongside skipper Harry Kane.
There are only so many places in Tuchel’s starting XI — and Lampard added: “Now I’m a manager, I understand selection difficulties.
“I’ve had big squads at Chelsea. When I was first there, I went back and they had the 29 players — of which some were disgruntled — that’s another story.
“But in terms of trying to fit players in, you have to make tough decisions as a manager — you have ideas, you have to work with the squad you’ve got and think, ‘What is the best?’ So that’s why I never really comment on what decisions other managers take because I don’t know the context, what they’re thinking and who and how they want to play.
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Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard played together for England for more than a decadeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Tuchel has plenty of elite attacking talent to choose fromCredit: PA
“However, I do think it’s more common in the modern day for a conversation to be more open between player and manager.
“It goes manager by manager – some don’t want to talk and say, “This is the team, I’m the boss, you get on with it.’
“There are those who will have individual conversations, and then other people will open up to the group. That all depends on who’s in charge. And players react differently.
“I think there’s a balance to it. I think the players have to feel your authority and believe in what you’re doing.
“It’s not always an open conversation. Our job is to get that bit right. And our job is to be like that.
“But as a manager also, you want to have constant communication in that players feel that they can speak to you because you might find something that you didn’t know.
‘A DIFFERENT ANIMAL’
“England’s a bit of a different animal because you only turn up every now and again.
“At Chelsea, sometimes you’re playing at the weekend and through the week, and you’re training every day and the conversations are there throughout the year much more.” One chat with a great former Chelsea manager sticks in Lampard’s mind.
He added: “I remember once having a conversation with Carlo Ancelotti about my position at Chelsea when he played a diamond formation.
“It didn’t feel really fluid, not just for me, but for the team.
“That was one of the beauties of Carlo, he would be very open with that chat and I’m not saying he changed his mind, but he was taking on information and then adapting around it.
“That’s why he’s one of the greatest managers, that’s his style — I think those things should be authentic.
“If you want to do your thing and you stick to your guns, you may succeed or you may fail, that’s what you do. That’s one person’s approach.
“I am more open with my players to try to speak to them, because I want to get better. So every conversation I have with a player may help me, whether I agree with it or not.”
“In the end, the decision is mine — and then hopefully it works.”
Loose Women was pulled off air for the rest of the week as host Christine Lampard made an announcement at the end of the ITV show
15:00, 09 Jul 2025Updated 15:04, 09 Jul 2025
Loose Women star Christine Lampard dropped a significant update at the end of the programme.
On Wednesday’s (July 9) episode of the popular ITV show, Christine joined panellists Coleen Nolan, Jane Moore, and Mariella Frostrup to discuss current affairs from the UK and beyond.
Yet, as the live show wrapped up, Christine delivered a key announcement about changes to the show’s schedule for the week.
The presenter announced to the audience and viewers at home that Loose Women would be taking a brief hiatus to accommodate ITV Racing: Live from Newmarket.
Christine made the unexpected revelation, stating: “That’s all we’ve got time for today and indeed the rest of the week because the racing is on.”, reports Belfast Live.
Christine Lampard made a major announcement at the end of Loose Women(Image: ITV)
She then hinted at what fans can look forward to when Loose Women returns to our screens next week, adding: “But we’ve got some great stuff coming up for you including a catch up with Coleen’s brother Brian.
“Big Brother legend Brian Dowling and we’ll be celebrating Janet Street Porter 50 years on our screens, can you believe that? We’ll see you soon.”
Loose Women is set to make its comeback next Monday, July 14, at its regular slot of 12.30pm.
This follows an emotional moment on Tuesday’s (July 8) show where Denise Welch expressed her desire to “re-do” her son Matty Healy’s upbringing.
Denise Welch became emotional as she admitted she wishes she could re-do Matty Healy’s childhood(Image: ITV)
The 67 year old television personality has previously been candid about her struggles with addiction in her youth, and made the decision to become sober 13 years ago.
During a heartfelt conversation about living in the present, Denise was visibly moved as she admitted: “When you do reflect you have to forgive yourself for realising… I always get emotional because I wish that I could re-do bits of particularly Matty’s (Healy) childhood, because I was coping with addictions and self-medication..”
Tears welled up as Nadia consoled her, praising Denise as “the most proud, present mum”, prompting Denise to reply: “Matty and I talk about it, and we’re so close I just wish I could do it again”.
As Christine brought up Matty’s success headlining Glastonbury with his band The 1975, Denise expressed: “I’m incredibly proud, it’s just when I look at things, why couldn’t I? You know..”
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
As well as her work on Loose Women, Christine often steps in for Lorraine Kelly on her chat show.
During a recent run as guest host, Christine interviewed Kate Ferdinand – and was quick to ask the former Towie star about life with a blended family and made a rare revelation about her own.
She said: “What do your two little ones think about the big ones in your household?
“Because I know my two little ones, their big sisters walk in, and it’s like god-like female creatures have walked into the house.”
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