England may have been handed a favourable qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup, but Frank Lampard believes that even if the team reach the finals in Brazil they will have little chance of winning. Montenegro, Poland and Ukraine are the principal hurdles in Group H, but the England midfielder thinks that winning the trophy in the home of the five-times champions is likely to be a challenge too far.
"It will be very difficult for an English team to win it over there," said Lampard, speaking as Chelsea's pre-season tour of the Far East ended in Hong Kong. "In their own back yard, with the strongest teams in the world there, and the climate. But what a great challenge it will be for whatever team that goes over there."
The draw in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday also placed Moldova and San Marino in England's group, with the qualification matches to start in September 2012 and finish in October 2013. With Fabio Capello due to stand down after Euro 2012, a new manager will lead England. The nine European group winners will go to Brazil, while the eight best runners-up will go into two-leg play-offs in November 2013 to decide Europe's final four qualifiers.
Lampard will be 36 by the time the finals start, and while he hopes to still be involved with England then, he admits he may not be able to hold off the next generation of players. "I take every year as it comes. It will be difficult, but it's great to see young players coming through, to see the Jack Wilsheres and the Josh McEachrans getting their chances, and I'd hope to be involved for as long as possible. I'd certainly be happy if I was there, but I can't call that one."
Having previously stated that he would never voluntarily retire from the national side Lampard, who has battled injuries in recent seasons, appeared to leave that option open. "It is my sentiment [not to retire], but you don't know, do you? There may be a time when, maybe for your own benefit and your own career as a player, you feel you have to come out of it like Paul Scholes did [and retire]. So whether that's ever an option I don't know, but at the minute I want to give everything, and I want to give it on all fronts. I can't say what will happen in the future."
The England delegation endured high tension towards the end of the draw, as England and Spain were the final two teams to be drawn, meaning one of them would be placed in Group I with France. The retired Brazilian Ronaldo brought respite to England by delivering them into Group H, leaving the reigning world champions to face the winners from 1998.
Laurent Blanc, France's head coach, expressed his dismay that they had been seeded in Pot 2 after group-stage exits at the most recent World Cup and European Championship. "I don't understand why France is in the second group," he said. "Why are Greece, Norway and Croatia ranked higher?"
Finland, Georgia and Belarus make up Group I, the only pool with five teams, and Blanc said Spain's strengths would not be a surprise. "Spain is the world champion. Barcelona won the Champions League. I know everything about them but the qualifiers start after 2012. I've got time to improve my team."
Wales were the first team to be drawn in the European section and they were soon joined in a difficult-looking Group A by Scotland, Serbia, Croatia, Belgium and Macedonia. Gary Speed, the Wales manager, was in Rio and said afterwards: "I'm happy to have got another home nation side. It adds to the interest and we know their strengths having played against them in May [in the Carling Nations Cup]."
Scotland's manager, Craig Levein, who stayed at home, was also looking at the positives. "The draw could have been a lot worse and with every draw like this there will be a lot of homework to be done on our opposition. I am not going to try and make predictions at this early stage."
Northern Ireland face a daunting task in Group F, with Portugal, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg, while the Republic of Ireland are also in a tough group, with Germany, Sweden, Austria, the Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan.
The draw took place at the Marina da Glória against the background of a barely concealed spat between Ricardo Teixeira, the head of the Brazilian football federation and the World Cup organising committee, and Pele.
Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, appointed Pele as an honorary World Cup ambassador to ensure the world's most famous player was not excluded from the tournament in his own country. Asked on Friday why he was only involved at a late stage, Pele said "I would not go to a party I was not invited to", although the organising committee released a statement later claiming that he had been invited in April but declined by email.
source : guardian.co.uk
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