Age should not matter - Lampard

Frank Lampard believes whether he is still good enough and not his age should be the overriding factor in determining whether he will still be part of England's plans for the 2014 World Cup.

Lampard will captain England in Wednesday's friendly international with Italy in Berne after missing the Euro 2012 finals through injury.

He will be 36 by the time Roy Hodgson's side participate in Brazil in two years - assuming they qualify.

But the Chelsea midfielder, who has won 90 caps for his country, feels he should be picked if his level of performance is still ahead of the young pretenders challenging for his spot.

Lampard, who last played for his country in the November clash with Spain, said: "I've said all along I wouldn't want to be hanging around to try and win 100 caps for the wrong reasons.

"In an ideal world it would be great to be involved all the way through (to Brazil).

"If you are playing at a level that shows regardless of age you deserve to be in there, then you should be in there.

"I do want to play for my country. I'm pleased to be amongst a young squad here. I did feel old when I saw the ages on the list for this match.

"I don't know whether I'll be in the squad in two years. I don't think anyone should know. The competition needs to be fierce and young players need to come through.

"The aim is to take the strongest squad to Brazil and I'll do what I can to be in that squad."

Lampard added: "I think your position should be under threat all the time if you are not performing at a certain level.

"Maybe it is the same when you talk about a 17-year-old and whether they are ready to go to a major tournament. If they show enough, then you put them in.

"When you get to the other end of the spectrum, it is the same."

Lampard insists retiring from international football this summer after missing the Euros never crossed his mind.

He said: "Personally I didn't feel the urge to. I want to carry on playing. I wouldn't say it was something I would never do.

"But while I feel I can give something, I'll try and do it. The last thing I want to be is an old man looking back and feeling I left a little something on the table.

"If I can keep my level of performance up to make a difference for Chelsea and England, then I'll be very happy with that."

England head coach Roy Hodgson has only James Milner and Ashley Young of the side which started the Euro 2012 quarter-final against Italy at his disposal on Wednesday evening.

But Lampard said: "It is a very exciting squad. Everyone likes to talk about the merits of this friendly each year but the manager has picked a very intelligent squad.

"The way he has rested players who played in Euros and brought in some young players to get a feel of the England set-up is very good."

One player in this squad Lampard is excited about is his Chelsea team-mate and left-back Ryan Bertrand who was part of the Team GB set-up at the Olympic Games.

He said: "I've got nothing but the utmost praise for Ryan. He has been out on loan a few times but he would have been playing in most other Premier League clubs for the last year or so at least.

"He is a great character, a great lad, he has got everything as a left-back and makes it look very easy.

"Unfortunately he is behind Ashley Cole but he can make a real name for himself.

"To play in the Champions League final with the composure he did bodes very well for the future."