SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Steven Gerrard says his team give him a good chance of lifting the World Cup trophy

Record ID: 455107

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Steven Gerrard says his team give him a good chance of lifting the World Cup trophy
  • Date: 11th June 2010
  • Summary: PHOKENG, NORTH WEST PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 10, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE VIEWS OF ENGLAND TEAM MEDIA CENTRE/ENGLAND CAPTAIN STEVEN GERRARD WALKS INTO NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN STEVEN GERRARD SAYS "It's a huge honour to be leading the boys out in a couple of days time. When I first heard about Rio's injury, and that I would be, my emotions were very mixed. Sick in the stomach for Rio because he is a fantastic player and a massive player for us and obviously deeply disappointed that he will not be available. Now it is my responsibility to lead the boys out and I am very excited and looking forward to it." CAMERA CREWS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN STEVEN GERRARD SAYS "Well I think all the games in the group are going to be difficult in their own ways. The USA is a very strong team and it's the first game so I think it is very important that we stamp our authority on the tournament and let everyone know what we are about and what we aim to do going forwards, so it's very important that we get off to a good start and get a good result." ENGLAND INSIGNIA HANGING FROM TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN STEVEN GERRARD SAYS "I think Wayne understands. He's a fantastic player and we don't want to take any of Wayne's fire away from him, that's the kind of player he is, he's always on the edge and that's the reason why he is one of the best players in the world." CAMERA OPERATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN STEVEN GERRARD SAYS "I hope so, I have certainly dreamed about it, that's what dreams are made of. It will be very difficult because there are so many good teams out in this tournament. But looking around at some of the players I am surrounded by and that gives me the confidence that I have got a good chance of that happening." STEVEN GERRARD LEAVES NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8BOZS74G5PYFVHWDD79WRGVL5
  • Story Text: Steven Gerrard says "it's a huge honour" for him to lead out the players on Saturday (June 12) for England's opening Group C game against USA in the World Cup tournament.
    Gerrard stepped into the captaincy after Rio Ferdinand was injured on the first day of training.
    "It's a huge honour to be leading the boys out in a couple of days time," he said at the England training camp near Rustenburg on Thursday (June 10). "When I first heard about Rio's injury, and that I would be, my emotions were very mixed. Sick in the stomach for Rio because he is a fantastic player and a massive player for us and obviously deeply disappointed that he will not be available. Now it is my responsibility to lead the boys out and I am very excited and looking forward to it."
    England play USA at the Royal Bafokeng stadium near Rustenburg on Saturday (June 12).
    Gerrard said that all the matches in the group would have their difficulties, but England had to start strongly and continue in the same way.
    "I think all the games in the group are going to be difficult in their own ways," Gerrard said. "The USA is a very strong team and it's the first game so I think it is very important that we stamp our authority on the tournament and let everyone know what we are about and what we aim to do going forwards, so it's very important that we get off to a good start and get a good result."
    Gerrard said manager Fabio Capello had warned the team not to get sent off for dissention or swearing following Wayne Rooney's booking for swearing in a friendly game against a local side on Monday (June 7).
    "I think Wayne understands," Gerrard said."He's a fantastic player and we don't want to take any of Wayne's fire away from him, that's the kind of player he is, he's always on the edge and that's the reason why he is one of the best players in the world."
    Finally Gerrard agreed that he had fantasised about lifting the World Cup trophy.
    "I have certainly dreamed about it, that's what dreams are made of," he said with a smile.
    "It will be very difficult because there are so many good teams out in this tournament. But looking around at some of the players I am surrounded by and that gives me the confidence that I have got a good chance of that happening."
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