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Here's yet more evidence that Frank Lampard is going to Brazil as a sort of auxiliary Steven Gerrard: Roy Hodgson has named the Chelsea midfielder England's vice-captain.
Frank Lampard is vice-captain. Frank's been the vice-captain all along in Steven [Gerrard]'s absences, which I think has been two, he's stepped up quite brilliantly. I've always thought that he was going to be a key member of this 23 [man squad] because of his experience and what he brings to the team apart from pure footballing ability. He brings a lot of other things to us in terms of his leadership qualities and characteristics.
Source: ChelseaFC.com.
Which is obviously pretty good for Frank Lampard, and explains why he's travelling with the team in the first place despite Hodgson hitching himself to captain slippy, with whom Lampard has never played well. For all the stick the 35-year-old has sometimes received from fans of other clubs, even while on England duty, one get the suspicion that he's enormously respected by the other players, and that's the sort of thing coaches absolutely love.
But anyway, congratulations to Lampard. Vice-captaining your country to the world's biggest tournament is no small honour.
