Gerrard targeting victory to mark Lampard’s milestone appearance

Manager Roy Hodgson confirmed that Lampard will start tonight’s crunch qualifier in Ukraine, thus making him the eighth Englishman to reach 100 caps.

Gerrard brought his century up last season when he led the team out in Stockholm, but the night proved to be an experience to forget as Zlatan Ibrahimovic ran England ragged in a 4-2 victory for the Scandinavians.

Gerrard, who will move level with Billy Wright on 105 caps today, does not want Lampard’s night at the Olympic Stadium to be tainted by a defeat which would put England’s qualification hopes in doubt.

“It will be a special night for Frank, but we want to remember it for the right result,” the England captain said.

“I lost on my 100th cap so hopefully that won’t happen for Frank.

“Hopefully he will go away with fond memories.”

Hodgson hinted England will cast off the shackles of conservatism and go for the jugular in Kiev even though a draw would be enough to keep the Three Lions top of Group H with two matches left.

Gerrard echoed his manager’s comments and also claimed that it will be Ukraine, and not England, who go into the match under the most pressure.

“We are coming here to win the match,” Gerrard said.

“If it ends up being a draw it’s a better result for us than Ukraine.

“The pressure lies on Ukraine to win the game and to take the game to us.”

At 33, Gerrard is entering the twilight of his international career, just like Lampard.

As a result, the Liverpool midfielder is desperate to make sure England qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

He hopes his drive, and that of the other senior members of the squad, will help push the squad through to qualification.

“It will be our last crack at doing well at a World Cup and hopefully that will be infectious within the rest of the group,” said Gerrard, who made his England debut against Ukraine 13 years ago.

“We hope the rest of the lads can see how much we want it and they can feed off that.”

Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko says tonight’s qualifier against England will be the biggest of his 34-year career in management.

His side will move one step closer to the World Cup finals if they beat Hodgson’s patched-up squad to move two points clear at the top of Group H.

Yesterday Fomenko had his poker face on for much of the press conference called to preview the clash in Kiev.

The 64-year-old did not give anything away about his team selection and he was reluctant to offer more than a few words when asked to assess the standard of Hodgson’s depleted party.

Indeed the only time the stony-faced coach gave any hint of emotion was when he was asked whether the visit of Hodgson’s team represented the biggest match of his long career.

“Not only of mine,” he said.

“We don’t want to make you (the Ukrainian people) angry.”

When asked whether he thought England would miss star striker Wayne Rooney, all Fomenko would say was: “You should put this question to the coach of the national team of England.”

Poland play San Marino in the other group match.

The Poles’ striker Robert Lewandowski will miss the qualifier after he injured his foot and knee during last week’s match against Montenegro, the Polish Football Association have confirmed.

Poland are fourth in the group on 10 points, but if England slip up in Kiev against Ukraine, the eastern Europeans could apply some pressure with a big win over winless San Marino before they face Hodgson’s side and neighbours Ukraine in October.

Striker Marcin Robak was called into the Poland squad as cover for Borussia Dortmund striker Lewandowski.