Scolari turned down the England job a couple of years ago, but on Wednesday night watched as four of the players from his current club turned out for Fabio Capello. He also listened whilst one of those players was treated to a chorus of boos from the home crowd as he was replaced by David Bentley. And whilst it’s hardly an unfamiliar sound for Frank Lampard in an England shirt, it definitely surprised the Chelsea manager who already regards the midfielder as one of his key players.
Having considered the reaction of the Wembley crowd, a shocked Scolari stated “In England? In the national team? I don’t believe it. Lampard always does his best for England just as he does for Chelsea. He comes every day, he is happy, he trains very well. England have very good players and Lampard is one of these.”
Well, of course there are plenty out there who wouldn’t agree with the new Chelsea boss, and not for the first time it would seem, as Scolari suggests when he talks about his own reception whilst manager of Portugal. “I have been booed many times,” he says “when I went to Portugal we lost against Spain 3-0 and they showed me white handkerchiefs. I didn’t know what it was, I thought it was a good thing.” However, on being reliably informed the supporters actually wanted to see him outside, Scolari must’ve soon realised the world of international football is a thankless place to be.
That experience hasn’t made him any less surprised at the treatment of his own player, to whom he then offered his own brand of support. The Chelsea boss says ‘I asked Frank: “Are you sad?” I said: “I know why you’re sad, because you have renewed the contract and you have money. You need to think about how to spend it.’
All very amusing, but in truth, the very fact that Lampard did get the money he seemingly held his own club to ransom over for such a ridiculous length of time will have endeared him to England supporters even less – and I for one can’t see Frank finding that quite so funny.
Blue is the colour
