I can see Croatia’s charismatic national team manager Slaven Bilic smiling with glee as he reads the headlines after tonight’s games for the Champions league. Steven Gerrard will be out for 15 days after groin surgery. The following is from The Times Online,

“Steven Gerrard will undergo surgery today that will rule him out of England’s two World Cup qualifying matches next month. Fresh from leading Liverpool into the group stage of the Champions League last night, the inspirational midfield player faces a routine operation on a niggling groin injury, the minor nature of which will be of little compensation to Fabio Capello.”

Steven Gerrard has been one of the better players for the three lions even during the odd strategic decision in this past game against the Czechs. Fabio Capello is probably sighing and wishing it was David Beckham with the issue as this would solve the public relations headaches that have been brought upon themselves by appointing a now single style midfielder. I can agree with Bobby Robson when he says,

“Sir Bobby believes there is now little room for Beckham if England, who last week struggled to draw with the Czech Republic in a Wembley friendly, are to unearth a coherent system.”

“It means picking vibrant wide players rather than starting with David Beckham when he can’t get forward as he used to. It means banging Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard’s heads together and getting them to play as a unit. Because they can.”

So for now Slaven smiles while Fabio sighs.