Lampard is a Banker

Here are some fascinating quotes in advance of the official announcement of the England team to play Croatia: “Frank Lampard will win his 50th cap in Croatia”; “The Chelsea midfielder will reach the half century milestone in the Maksimir Stadium”; “when he wins his 50th cap in Wednesday’s Euro qualifier with Croatia” and, from the lad himself, “I’m proud to reach 50 caps”.

There is nothing speculative about this lot – it’s not so much a case of ‘may’ as ‘will’. And that raises some interesting questions. Have the media been given advance notice of the team? Alternatively, have the players been told and has Frank Lampard been granted special dispensation to leak news of his 50th cap? Or is Lampard being a touch arrogant (or at the very least over-confident) in assuming that he will play?

Perhaps it is none of the aforementioned. A simple matter of Frank Lampard’s selection for the England team having become automatic – a foregone conclusion.

Now that, in view of recent performances, would be very scary indeed.

And also very irritating if your name is David Beckham.