GERRARD TARGETS FOR AN ISTAN-BULLSEYE IN MOSCOW
Steven Gerrard expects a hostile reception in Moscow this Saturday similar to the one they faced in Istanbul three years ago. The Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey parallels this Saturday's match as it is the penultimate game to decide England's fate in Euro 2008.
A win in Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium would seal a place in Euro 2008 for England yet a draw will leave them second with a mere two point margin between them and the group leaders Croatia. Steven Gerrard spoke out yesterday urging the players to bring the spirit of Istanbul where they qualified for Euro 2004 by beating Turkey with an unwelcoming crowd in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
Gerrard who captained the England side against Estonia last Saturday said: "I don't know if you can say this is the type of game that can define your career, but it is certainly one of those game that if we get the result we want we can look back on in years to come with a bit of pride."
"I look back on the draw in Turkey, games like that are big nights, for big players and leaders to step forward and that is what we are going to need again."
"We gave everything we had and came through that night and the feeling now is similar."
The England team face numerous different obstacles this Saturday in Moscow unlike the recent match against Russia at Wembley where they comfortably won 3-0. At the Luzhniki they will play on plastic turf which favors the home team who have played and trained on the pitch many times whereas the England team have never played on a plastic pitch. As well as this, the Russian crowd will not welcome the England team with opening arms trying to make the atmosphere as hostile as possible for the players. With the vice-captain's wise words of advice, the passionate England supporters and the spirit of Istanbul England will hopefully pull through to emerge as victors in Moscow and secure a place in Euro 2008. Who knows how well we can do then!
Gerrard who captained the England side against Estonia last Saturday said: "I don't know if you can say this is the type of game that can define your career, but it is certainly one of those game that if we get the result we want we can look back on in years to come with a bit of pride."
"I look back on the draw in Turkey, games like that are big nights, for big players and leaders to step forward and that is what we are going to need again."
"We gave everything we had and came through that night and the feeling now is similar."
The England team face numerous different obstacles this Saturday in Moscow unlike the recent match against Russia at Wembley where they comfortably won 3-0. At the Luzhniki they will play on plastic turf which favors the home team who have played and trained on the pitch many times whereas the England team have never played on a plastic pitch. As well as this, the Russian crowd will not welcome the England team with opening arms trying to make the atmosphere as hostile as possible for the players. With the vice-captain's wise words of advice, the passionate England supporters and the spirit of Istanbul England will hopefully pull through to emerge as victors in Moscow and secure a place in Euro 2008. Who knows how well we can do then!