Razor runs the rule over England

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England’s World Cup campaign finally sparked into life during a nervy afternoon in Port Elizabeth. Following some poor performances and a reported dissolution within the camp, the team’s World Cup chances hinged on the final group game with Slovenia. At a time when England needed a spark, they duly got it with a tireless performance from captain Steven Gerrard and notable performances from James Milner and Jermain Defoe.

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Embarking on a tournament with yet another captain change, the third in four months after Rio Ferdinand ruptured knee ligaments, was never going to be easy. With Liverpool’s talisman Steven Gerrard now leading the line, England turned to him in their time of need to display the same leadership qualities which lead Liverpool to two Champions’ League finals and an FA Cup final in recent years.

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Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock, a man who knows Gerrard well, and saw him blossom into one of the finest footballers of his generation, believes the Liverpool man is the best man for the job. “Gerrard’s got the armband and he’ll be the first to admit he hasn’t had the best of seasons. This is a great stage for him and I think he’ll thrive on it.

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“Obviously JT [John Terry] is a natural leader, but Stevie is a great man. He leads the dressing room and on the pitch he runs around and gets the tackles in.”

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England will need that spark if they are to make it through the knock-out stages, says the former Liverpool and West Ham defender. “Sometimes in a team a captain is wasted, especially when it’s a goalkeeper. If your captain is in the centre of the pitch, he’s got everyone around him and he can gee them up.”

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One of the mysteries surrounding England though is the role Joe Cole will play in the remainder of the tournament. Cole, recently released by Chelsea, was a late call up by Fabio Capello, after spending a large part of the season recovering from a knee injury.

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Ruddock believes that Joe Cole can still offer England something different in attack. “If you’ve seen Joe Cole and played with him, you will know that he is one of the most gifted footballers of his generation. He has a natural talent and enthusiasm for the game.

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“He was a bit lightweight a couple of years ago, but now he’s stronger and still does his clever work in the final third [of the pitch]. He’s got a big part to play for England now.”

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The squad have had to deal with criticism levied against them. Criticism at the lack of cohesion and desire within the camp, factors which have led to a deterioration in team morale. Ruddock says that a criticism of desire is unfair and that the media need to support the team rather than be on their backs.

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“Representing England was the greatest moment of my life. As a player you don’t want to disappoint, and I think it’s unfair that our players get pressure from the media.

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“Every one of them is a top player for their club. If they lose with their club, they still get clapped off, but if they lose with England they get absolutely hammered. No one likes to be caned by the press and that plays on their minds. They don’t go out there and play bad on purpose. We should be proud of them regardless.”

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Ex England centre back, Neil Ruddock joins forces with Guitar Hero for the launch of its free National Anthem video game download for the World Cup in South Africa. Visit�www.facebook.com/guitarhero�for more info.

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