Pressure for places
Wednesday, 12 September, 2007
Steven Gerrard believes the current competition within the squad indicates a positive future for the team.
England v Russia
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
8pm, Wednesday 12 September 2007
Wembley Stadium
Live on BBC1
Steven Gerrard believes an incredible competition for places in the England squad can catapult the Three Lions to the Euro 2008 finals – and beyond.
Gerrard is in confident mood ahead of Wednesday’s crucial qualifier against Russia at Wembley after Steve McClaren’s new-look side demolished Israel at the weekend.
The team included the likes of Gareth Barry, Micah Richards, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Emile Heskey – all players who weren't starting games even just a year ago.
“It shows there is great competition in the squad now and that's what we want,” said Gerrard.
“As a team, looking at the bigger picture, we want that. Obviously, I want to play and be selfish, but a team plays well when there's pressure from behind the starting 11 places.
“It's getting to the stage now where there's two or three people fighting for each position, so the people that are starting have got to perform to a certain level to stay in the team, otherwise someone's going to step into your shoes and take that position off you.
“We have had it at certain times in the past, but I think the situation we're in now means it's more intense and the quality is getting higher and higher. And that’s good for England.”
“We're happy with how it went,” he said. “The secret is that we've known each other for a long time, from the Euros in 2000 and we're good friends off the pitch so the communication was there from the off.
“The balance was right because he's left-footed and I'm a right-footer. It just seemed to work. We'd only worked on it for a couple of days before the game and we just managed to link up straightaway.”
The test now for England is to maintain their standards against Russia, qualify for Euro 2008 and then prove to the world that they have one of the best squads in football.
“If this team clicks, the quality is better than the squads that have gone into big tournaments in the past,” added the 27-year-old.
“We've got to be better though. We've underachieved of late - it's so obvious to say that. We need to deliver for this country because with the players that we've got, we've got to make the most of it.”