Frank Lampard will reach a career milestone tonight when he wins his 100th cap against Ukraine in the World Cup Group H qualifier.
Roy Hodgson, the England manager, confirmed that the 35-year-old midfielder, who has won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and captained Chelsea to victory in both the Champions League and Europa League, will start the match.
"I don't think there will be many players who will play for England for two or three years let alone 14 years," said Hodgson. "Fourteen years is a long time to be representing your country. We don't have that many international matches so I think people who want to play 100 games for their country have to play for a team that wins major international tournaments and play for a very long time."
Lampard will play alongside two others who have won 100 caps for their country in captain Steven Gerrard and defender Ashley Cole.
Gerrard, who will move level with Billy Wright on 105 caps, does not want Lampard's night at the Olympic Stadium to be tainted by a defeat which would put England's qualification hopes in doubt.
"It will be a special night for Frank, but we want to remember it for the right result," said the captain. "I lost on my 100th cap [a 4-2 by Sweden in Stockholm] so hopefully that won't happen for Frank. Hopefully he will go away with fond memories."
Hodgson also confirmed he would make only one change to the side which beat Moldova 4-0 at Wembley on Friday night. That will be to replace the striker Danny Welbeck, who picked up his second yellow card of World Cup qualification.
With Rickie Lambert and Theo Walcott both in form, Hodgson is confident he has enough firepower available. "We have plenty of options, we are by no means limited," he said.
Often accused of conservatism, the manager insists England will go for the kill but refused to downplay the difficulty of beating Ukraine in Kiev.
"It is two teams, two good teams in the group, both of which are capable of winning the group, so it's a cup final in that respect and you have to play well enough to win that game. Sometimes you win it by going on to the front foot and trying to make certain you score more goals than the opposition, so we are aware of those things. We don't have any qualms about what we have to do and the task in front of us."
Hodgson did concede it would be "backs to the wall" if England lost, but that seemed to be just a flickering thought in the otherwise positive ideas that were rushing through his mind.
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