12 October 2005
Frank Lampard post-match

WATCH THE VIDEO: England goalscorer Frank Lampard says England can take their form on to the World Cup next summer.


Match-winning hero Frank Lampard believes England went a long way towards answering their critics in their victory over Poland at Old Trafford.

The Chelsea midfielder netted a brilliant second-half goal to ensure England finished top of Group Six. 

He now says that the Three Lions can lay to rest the demons of their defeat to Northern Ireland after completing their qualifying campaign with yet another win in Manchester.

"I think some of the criticism has overstepped the mark a bit," said Lampard.

"Hopefully we have silenced that somewhat. I think the performance was very good, particularly in the first half with the way we played and the chances we created.

"It's great to finish as group winners. We said we were the strongest team in the group but we still had to go out and do it.

"Albeit we've done it in the last game but Poland are one of the form teams in Europe so it was never going to be an easy game and it's a great confidence boost for us.

"We were very keen to win tonight. Ask any of the players and the staff, we are more upset with ourselves than anyone when we don't perform."

Lampard was particularly impressed with the way England began the match against Poland – their attacking forays warranting more than just one goal in the first half.

"We started at high tempo and high skill level and we kept that up throughout the game. The start of a game does affect a game quite a lot and we started well today and we managed to keep that up.

"When we play that sort of tempo and at that level not many teams will be able to cope with us."

And Lampard was even more delighted with his goal – a thumping volley from Michael Owen' splendid pass.

He continued: "The goal I scored gives me more of a happiness knowing it was the goal that won us the game because we did deserve to win.

"There are a lot of good points to pick up on in tonight's match and we can build on that."

Lampard added: "You could see by the celebrations that the spirit in the team is good and how happy we were to prove a little bit of a point and win the group.

"I think tonight we showed how we can play. Hopefully we'll improve on the way to Germany and when we get there we'll be firing on all cylinders and try and win the competition."