England World Cup skipper Steven Gerrard promises Uruguay "endless ...
Captain accepts Thursday meeting of Group D's two opening-match losers is make or break but is full of confidence following Italy battle
Stuart Franklin - FIFA
No-lose situation: Defeat to Uruguay could mean the end of Gerrard's England careerSkipper Steven Gerrard knows there is no alternative but victory for England against Uruguay, writes Martin Lipton in Sao Paulo.
But the Three Lions' captain has never had more faith that he is leading a team ready to embrace the challenge.
Gerrard admitted the pain of defeat at the hands of Italy in their Brazil 2014 opener hit home hard, as Roy Hodgson's men were forced to digest a bitter pill.
Yet the midfielder remains convinced he is the captain of a special bunch of England players, a group who showed in the Amazon they have broken the mould of the past decade and are ready to shape a new future.
Ahead of Thursday's match here, Gerrard said: 'Going forward, we have got to be bold and aggressive. That is where we looked at our strongest against Italy.
'I know what is going to happen going forward. That for me is a gimme with the attacking talent we have got in this group and the belief and confidence from our attacking play against Italy.
'We will cause our next two opponents endless problems. People talk about how strong and organised Italy are defensively and we caused them endless problems.
' Uruguay [beaten 3-1 by Costa Rica on Saturday] and Costa Rica are not as good defensively as Italy, so we have got to have the belief we can get maximum points off both sides.
'The key is how we defend. Uruguay's strength are in their front players - it is no good us being really good going forward on the break if we can't defend properly. But we have got to go and do it. It's a make or break situation. I am hoping that's when we perform at our best.''
Getty
If they can do it... Unfancied Costa Rica scored three in beating Uruguay on SaturdayGerrard listed those attacking threats, not just his Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez but also Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan and Gaston Ramirez.
Nevertheless, he believes the hurt Saturday's result left the England players nursing will serve to focus minds even more strongly, a point emphasised as he and Frank Lampard made their feelings clear during the following day's post mortem.
'Everyone was down and there was frustration because we didn't get anything out the game,'' he added. 'But there were a lot of positives in the game and us players and staff realise that.
'We realise that if we do play to that level in the two games coming up we will get out of the group.
'Two years ago against Italy [at Euro 2012], we got criticised for being on the edge of our own box, showing no bravery or ambition going forward. Nobody who watched Saturday's game can point a finger at England for lacking commitment, desire, guts and bravery going forward.
'We got punished for a couple of errors. We have to stamp them out. But we still have belief and confidence. It is natural that the pressure has grown and the expectation grows, even for a bit of panic to set in from the outside.
'People start thinking the worst, but for us players we have to be strong and cope with that. You must put that to the back of your mind and focus on the good things we did against Italy.''
Gerrard, of course, has answered more questions than most about one fellow Scouser.
Wayne Rooney's performance against Italy that was debated up and down the land, although Gerrard was adamant: 'He's alright. He's good.
'For me, against Italy, he had a big say in the match with an assist. He did exactly what the manager had asked him to do. We are all sticking together and trying to fight for the same thing.''
Gerrard knows his England days are numbered.
He is even more desperate it does not all end with a whimper here on Thursday night.
'When you get to this age you want to try and appreciate and savour every moment and try and achieve everything that is in your grasp,'' said the 34-year-old.
'I am really proud of the career I have had. From first going to Liverpool at eight years old to be sitting here as England captain, playing in these pressurised situations, is what I've always dreamed of.
'That's why I never really get scared or shy away from this position or this responsibility. I have had many highs and lows. Even for me, Saturday was a big learning curve and lesson in how cruel football is.
'Every game with England is more important now because it's closer to the last. My time is running out as an England player. So I want to try and grasp as many good memories as I can. From a selfish point of view, it makes this game even more important.
'These are the games you want to be involved in as a player. I want to play for England more times.''
Uruguay vs England: Probable teams
England Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Sterling, Rooney, Welbeck; Sturridge.
Uruguay Muslera; Fucile, Jiminez, Godin, Caceres; Ramirez, Arevalo, Gargano, Rodriguez; Cavani, Suarez.
Post a Comment for "England World Cup skipper Steven Gerrard promises Uruguay "endless ..."