FRANK LAMPARD has revealed how the biggest match of his life could
be in Barcelona – as he and Spanish fiancée Elen Rives plan to marry
abroad next year.

Elen, 28, and their 11-month-old baby daughter Luna were the
greatest comfort to the soccer hero as he sank into the depths of
despair after England were knocked out of the World Cup in Germany
on penalties.

Now he is ready to wed his beautiful senorita.

As he joined his Chelsea team-mates for pre-season training in the
luxurious surroundings of Beverly Hills in LA this week, Frank, 28,
told how he has become a real family man besotted with his fiancée
and tot.

Frank told how he had to wrench himself away from the two ladies in
his life at the end of a holiday in Las Vegas last week to meet up
with his club-mates and manager Jose Mourinho at their US base.

The star, whose autobiography Totally Frank will be serialised in
the News of the World tomorrow and The Sun next week, said: "Simply
leaving the holiday to go back to work was hard. Luna was crawling
and making smiley faces and she laughs at you. There are so many
special moments now.

"As a first-time dad, in the first few months you are always worried
what you are doing. It is hard work. But you get your reward and
now, as she is getting older, it gets better every day."

And life with Elen could not be better. Frank revealed: "I think we
will hopefully get married next year. That is the plan. It won't be
a big, flashy wedding. We won't sell pictures to a glossy magazine.
That's not my style. We think it will be abroad, but it will
hopefully be somewhere where it is done before anyone knows. Then we
will tell everyone."

Frank told how former model Elen still teases him because he does
not do fancy tricks like Brazilian ace Ronaldinho, who plays for
Barcelona — Elen's hometown team.
He said: "We sit and watch the TV and she will say, `Why can't you
do that?' when she sees some of the things he does. But I have to
say, `It's not that simple. There are different players and
different styles.' She is Spanish so she says what she thinks. If I
have had a bad game she tells me."

And Frank is loath to criticise the infamous partying by the WAGs —
England wives and girlfriends — seen at the World Cup and led by
Elen.

Frank defended the decision by then manager Sven Goran Eriksson to
allow the players' partners to join them in Germany — but said he
would not complain if new England boss Steve McClaren bans them from
future tournaments.

He said: "It was definitely nice, as players, to see the wives and
girlfriends. But it has to be at the right times — the day after a
game, when you have played and warmed down.

"But maybe during the preparation for a big game I don't think you
want to see them for a few days while you are training, focusing on
the game and sleeping in the afternoons.
"It would not really bother me if the new manager said they can't
come. I would just get on with it. I don't think they have any
effect on matches.

"The girls were in their hotel for a month. It must have been quite
boring for them at times. I don't know how many times they went out,
but if they had not gone people would have said, `This one does not
like this one,' or, `That one does not like that one.'

"I thought it was great that they bonded."

Private school-educated Frank is keen on politics, reads heavyweight
biographies and is a passionate viewer of politics show Question
Time on BBC1.

He is a tireless worker for the Teenage Cancer Trust and his father
has compared him to great former England captain Bobby Moore for his
friendly, generous, off-the field behaviour.
Frank, whose dad played in the same West Ham team as Bobby Moore,
said: "I met Bobby as a kid but was too young to really know the
person.

"I think dad was saying that I am quite conscientious and quiet in
my own way. He always says Bobby Moore was a real gentleman. I don't
know if I am but it is something I try to be."

Frank caused a few shock headlines with isolated incidents in his
younger days.

He said: "You can't always be spot on — though dad says Bobby was —
but I try to be."

Now Frank is looking forward to a return to football, being back
home with Elen . . . and hoping for two or three more kids.
He said: "Hopefully it will be in the not too distant future but
it's up to Elen. But we are both keen."

For now he is just loving being a dad of one.

Missing a penalty for England won't give Frank sleepless nights, he
insists. But his daughter Luna does. And he loves it.

TOTALLY FRANK by Frank Lampard will be published by HarperSport on
August 14 at £18.99. © Frank Lampard 2006. Order a copy from The Sun
bookshop in advance for £16.99 with free delivery by calling 0870
162 5005 and quoting code JJ640.