Injury might end Frank Lampard's international career

Frank Lampard's life was quite happy less than a month ago when his Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, on 19 May. Now things took a turn for the worse as the 34-year old midfielder suffered a thigh injury that will keep him out of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. Given his age this probably was Lampard's last chance of representing England at a major tournament. And the player seems fully aware of that: "It possibly is my last chance with England. I don't see myself retiring or taking myself out of it in the near future. But I'm no fool and I know that age is a factor and, at international level, you don't go on forever." Lampard's absence from Euro 2012 also means his final memory of the big stage at a summer international tournamen will be the one of "the goal that never was", his shot that dropped yards behind the line with during England's defeat against Germany in Bloemfontein at the South African World Cup in 2010. The "goal" was unjustly ruled out by the officials and England's campaign ended in a heavy 4-1 beating. Now Lampard will not get the chance to make up for that memory. However, Lampard's misfortune is pure luck for another player: Liverpool's Jordan Henderson, who will replace the Chelsea midfielder in Poland and Ukraine. Henderson will be 22 during Euro 2012 and this could well be the stage where the youngster could shine. Henderson didn't have the best of seasons with Liverpool though, following his move from Sunderland. PaddyPower prices England's chances of winning the tournament at 12/1 while the Spain are the favourites at 13/5.