England v Portugal
Saturday 01 July 2006
World Cup,
Quarter-Final
Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
4pm kick off (London Time)



30 June 2006
VIDEO: Steven Gerrard press conference
Steven Gerrard was in bullish mood ahead of Saturday's clash with Portugal.

Steven Gerrard wants the England team of 2006 to be remembered for just one thing - winning the World Cup.


The Liverpool midfielder goes into the big game against Portugal in Gelsenkirchen today in hugely confident mood and determined to create history.

He remembers only too well losing to Portugal on penalties in the last eight of Euro 2004 and this time he is expecting a very different result.

He said: "All the players have been talking about losing to them last time and the fact we want to go one better, in fact two better hopefully.

"The team we have got at the moment is good enough to go that step further as well. That's the plan.

"People are saying it would be great to get to a semi-final but I'm thinking I want to play in a World Cup final.

"All I want people to say in 10 years time about this side is that we were the second England team to win the World Cup, simple as that.

"And if we lift our performance and get that right result against Portugal that will give us the confidence to go all the way."

Gerrard knows England haven’t been at their 100 per cent best in Germany so far but now the competition has got to the business end he believes the quality of the players - and their immense experience - will shine through.

He knows all about knockout football having won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, of course, while Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell reached the final of the same competition with Arsenal this year.

He said: "There are a lot of big players in the squad who have played in big games in the past and I am sure that will hold them in good stead.

"The Champions League and big FA Cup games help with preparation for games like this because it’s a knockout competition now.

"If we were to go out on Saturday, I don't think that is good enough for the players we have got. We need to go further than that. And I believe we will."