24 March 2005    
Exclusive: Steven Gerrard Interview

 Click here to download Windows Media Player.


England lead Group Six after four games and are favourites to progress, but, speaking exclusively to TheFA.com, Gerrard is also says he is keen that he and his team-mates produce the kind of displays that are deserving of the tag, starting at Old Trafford on Saturday.

"Obviously when you're big favourites and you're playing a team that's the underdogs, there's a risk that you can become a bit complacent and take them a bit lightly but we'll show them a lot of respect," says the 24-year-old.

"It's going to be a tough game - a bit of a derby situation - but hopefully we can get three points."

"We have to show the people that are watching and the opposition the reason that we are favourites. We're favourites because we believe that we are a better team than them and that we've got better individuals. We need to have proved that come quarter to five on Saturday."

He adds: "We are in pole position. If we can get six points from the next two games I think we'll have one foot there. We don't want to be in the same position as we were for the Euros when everything rested on that last game."

The Liverpool captain highlights the Three Lions' strike partnership of Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen as one of the keys to England's success over these two important home qualifiers, but he also realises that the pair will receive special attention from their opponents and expects Lawrie Sanchez to be well-prepared.

"I think the partnership upfront works because they are both very different," says Gerrard.

"Michael is very, very quick, sharp and an out and out goalscorer. He gets on the end of scraps and runs the channels very well.

"Wayne is more physically strong, excellent at holding the ball up and clever in finding space in behind the opposition's midfield. He can score world-class goals out of nothing.

"It can be very difficult if you are playing with two strikers who are too similar because they might both come short or both go long but with Wayne and Michael there is a great mix. Sometimes too Wayne will go long and Michael will do that job in behind. It's the variation that makes it great to play with them.

"Lawrie Sanchez will be trying to stop the individual talents that we have in our team," predicts Gerrard.

"He'll be telling his defence to try and keep Michael and Wayne quiet. He'll be telling them to keep it tight at the back and to try and get to half-time without conceding a goal and then hoping that the pressure starts to build on England."

"But, looking at it from our perspective, we'll be looking to score early, trying to get Northern Ireland to chase the game and then hopefully punish them from there."

To watch the full interview with Steven Gerrard, click on the links above.