Sven blundered over Defoe: Lampard

Jermain Defoe is seen in action during an international friendly soccer match against Uruguay at Anfield in Liverpool in March 2006. England midfielder Frank Lampard believes former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has blundered when he left Defoe at home instead of taking the Spurs man to the World Cup.

England midfielder Frank Lampard believes former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has blundered when he left Jermain Defoe at home instead of taking the Spurs man to the World Cup.

England's campaign in Germany was seriously damaged by Eriksson's decision to take only four strikers to the finals with the first choice pairing of Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen carrying injuries.

"Questions had been asked about why we didn't have five strikers in the squad when two of our forwards went into the tournament trying to recover fitness," said Chelsea star Lampard.

"Personally, I'd have included Jermain as well. I played with him at West Ham and he is a natural goalscorer."

The criticism aimed at Eriksson was vindicated as Owen was sent home with a cruciate injury, leaving just two experienced forwards in Rooney and Peter Crouch and one, Theo Walcott, who had never played top-flight football.

England were beaten by Portugal in the quarter-finals in Germany.

Eriksson has since been replaced by his assistant Steve McLaren.