Gerrard, Lampard & Ferdinand discussing England's Golden Generation is still fascinating

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Gerrard, Lampard and Ferdinand discussing England's Golden Generation is still fascinating

By Rob Hoskin

Published Nov 10, 2022

Why did England's Golden Generation fail? Gerrard, Lampard and Ferdinand revealed all in 2017...

England's squad for the 2022 World Cup is set to be announced as the Three Lions look to end many years of hurt.

Gareth Southgate's side will head to Qatar as one of the favourites for the tournament having agonisingly lost on penalties in the final of Euro 2020 against Italy.

While we're yet to find out exactly who will be in Southgate's 26-man squad, there's no doubt it will be full of world-class talent.

Stars like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane will be looking to finally lead England to glory and win their first international trophy since 1966.

There's no doubt this current crop of players is sensational but they don't quite compare to England's 'Golden Generation' from the mid-2000s.

Back then, England could call upon the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney but failed to reach their potential as a group.

How can a group so talented fail to progress past the quarter-finals at an international tournament? It's a question many England fans have asked for years.

There's no simple answer but perhaps the people who can reply to the question best are those involved.

And that's exactly what Ferdinand, Lampard and Gerrard attempted to do in 2017.

Appearing as pundits on BT Sport, presenter Jake Humphrey quizzed the trio on the Golden Generation and everything that happened in those years.

What followed was a remarkably fascinating 10-minute chat.

VIDEO: Gerrard, Lampard & Ferdinand's fascinating chat about England's 'Golden Generation'

Fans react to Gerrard, Lampard & Ferdinand talking about England

What did Gerrard, Lampard & Ferdinand say about the 'Golden Generation'?

Ferdinand begun the discussion speaking about his relationship with Lampard.

'We came through at West Ham together, did everything together like proper mates," Ferdinand said of Lampard. "I left and went to Leeds then Manchester United, Frank went to Chelsea and around that time our communication just disintegrated.

"It was down to, from my perspective, the obsession with winning. I didn't want to see Frank have an edge on me.

"It was the same with Stevie and England, when we were battling them (Liverpool) for the Premier League, I didn't want to sit around and have a beer with him because I didn't want to hear what Liverpool were doing... I think that's what held us back."

Ferdinand, Lampard and Gerrard talking about England

Lampard agreed by adding: "You feel so passionately about the club you play with your team-mates, your own performances that to be a bit pally with someone you're competitive with... it may have [held back England].

"We didn't hate each other but by nature we would sit on different tables.

"A lot of other nations have players playing all over the world and then they come back together and they don't have that competition - every week we were at each other."

Gerrard agreed: "I think it was more of a respectful relationship around England rather than a closeness where there was love there.

"[Philippe] Coutinho can't wait to go away with Brazil, it's the best 10 days of their season. But you didn't get that feeling with England.

"We have to improve the bond, the togetherness and the closeness and I think Gareth [Southgate] is trying to do that and I think that will help results on the pitch."

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