Lampard: England can compete with the best in the world

Lampard has come under fire as much as any player for the team’s poor  performances at the last World Cup and their failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

But the Chelsea midfielder believes the 4-1 thrashing of Croatia has restored belief that England will make it to the 2010 World Cup.

It's there: But Lampard's goal in Zagreb was ruled out

Lampard said: 'This isn’t the be-all and end-all, but it has sent out a message that we mean business. It is a marker to show what we can do.

'We haven’t performed the last two years as a group, I think every player will admit that, and now it’s time to regain that confidence.

'This result is sweet after losing to Croatia twice in the European qualifiers. They gave us a bit of a lesson technically the last time we played here and we have turned it round. 

'We showed we can be as technically gifted as anyone. After not qualifying for the Euros you do doubt yourself and there was a lot of doubt in us from all over the place.

'As a footballer you always have those moments as a player and as a team. Top
players react to that in a positive way and this was the start of the reaction.

'This is a great platform to build on in our bid to qualify. To have six points from two games is as much as we could have asked for, but to perform the way we did and show what we can do, was even better.

Recovered: Joe Cole (left) should be fit for the weekend

'I think we have to be confident for our next two games and there will be a little spring in our step when we get back together next month. We want to get another six points and then we’re really pushing on in the group.'

England’s next two matches are at home to Kazakhstan on 11 October and a trip to Belarus four days later.

Lampard also revealed that club and country team-mate Joe Cole should be fit to face
Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday.

Cole was stretchered off in the second half after being elbowed by Robert Kovac,
who was sent of f for t he challenge, and ended up getting 10 stitches in his head.

The 26-year-old complained of feeling groggy as he left the Maksimir Stadium, but Lampard said: 'I don’t think there are any serious repercussions. He was chatting in the dressing room afterwards as normal.

'He should be fine for the weekend.'

Lampard refused to criticise Croatia for their ill-discipline, even though Josep Simunic
was also lucky to stay on the field after a series of fouls on England players.

Lampard added: 'Sometimes people react in different ways when the game is going
against them. I didn’t see the incident well enough to see what happened to Joe. I just saw him come right through him and Joe suddenly began bleeding.'