Frank Lampard: Croatia was a turning point for England... and me

Frank Lampard will run out at Wembley on Saturday hoping his days as the target of the England boo-boys are finally over.

Lampard became the scapegoat for the fans' dissatisfaction with life under Steve McClaren, mercilessly and unfairly pilloried for any minor mistakes and barely applauded for his goals or good play.

That all stemmed from the mistaken belief that the Chelsea man had deliberately refused to sit on the bench for McClaren's horror night against Andorra in Barcelona, having been omitted from the starting side in favour of Owen Hargreaves.

But after playing a central role in the victory in Croatia which reinvigorated belief in the Three Lions from a doubting nation, and with the accolades for his displays under Luiz Felipe Scolari coming thick and fast, Lampard feels the bad Wembley days for him and England are over.

Asked if he anticipated more respect from supporters now, Lampard said: " I wouldn't use the word respect, I think that's wrong.

"But the thing about the fanplayer relationship is that fans react to how the players are playing as well.

"In the Croatia game we showed a work ethic and a team ethic and a lot of people responded to it.

"We don't want to get carried away with ourselves but when fans see that and hopefully see it atWembley on Saturday you will get a different response out there."

Even if Capello's side as a whole have the fans behind them, there remains the question of whether Lampard, voted England's player of the year by the supporters in 2005, has got them back onside.

"Hopefully, what happened in Croatia will be the turning point for me with England and the fans," admitted the Chelsea man, set to earn his 65th cap against the unknown men from the country which inspired comic character Borat.

"I was pleased how I played out there in a slightly different role to how I play for Chelsea but I'm capable of doing that.

"Being an England player you have to be strong. Everyone with 50 caps or more has had little ups and downs.

"I'm big enough to say that for the last couple of years I haven't done as well as I should have done for England and after Croatia this is a start for me to kick on again and show the sort of form I feel I can produce."

NATIONAL HIGHS..

Oct 10, 1999: Debut in 2-1 win over Belgium

Aug 20, 2003: First England goal, against Croatia

Sep 10, 2008: Superb display as England rout Croatia

..AND LOWS

July 1, 2006: Misses in penalty shoot-out as England make traditional quarter-final exit in World Cup

Mar 28, 2007: Ruled out of Andorra match in Barcelona with a broken wrist after earlier being selected as sub

May 28, 2008: Hears the jeers from Wembley crowd in 1-1 friendly draw with the USA

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