“I’ll do the same against Sweden” – Gerrard

Steven Gerrard won the FA Cup for Liverpool FC yesterday with two superb goals, an in perfect pass and the performance of a true hero.

“I’ll do the same again against Sweden,” he told newspaper Sportbladet.

It was impossible not to be thrilled by the Liverpool captains heroics yesterday. From the inch perfect pass he sent in to the box for French striker Djibril Cisse to volley home, to the 35-yard out screamer scored with only seconds left on the clock, the indefatigable Gerrard sent out a warning to England’s opponents in the World Cup. Here’s a midfielder who can dictate the game and turn it around in a moment’s breath.

The only possible good news for Sweden is that Gerrard is yet to thrive in an England shirt. His performances in the European Championships two years ago were largely poor and he has yet to reproduce the same kind of form for his country as he does for his club week in and out.

This may well be because Sven-Göran Eriksson relies on him as a defensive midfielder instead of giving him the freedom to roam that Rafael Benitez does.

Nevertheless, with a Champion’s League and FA Cup medal in his collection, what’s not to say the single-minded Gerrard isn’t out to add a World Cup medal to his collection. With Sweden’s defenders yet to show the kind of form that’s expected, much will be up to the midfield to stop Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham closing in on goal. Together Gerrard and Frank Lampard have scored over forty goals from midfield this season.

It will take all of Sweden’s might to close them down.

Photo: Ahoyclub