• World Cup

Neville: England under no pressure

Expectations of England are low, says Neville © Getty Images

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England coach Gary Neville says they are not under pressure to perform well at the 2014 World Cup as expectations are already low following poor showings in recent tournaments.

In a joint-interview with the Daily Telegraph alongside former Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes, Neville also said that Roy Hodgson's side face less pressure in Brazil than any other previous England team.

England have failed to reach the last four of a tournament since Euro 96 and their most recent showing, at Euro 2012, saw them knocked out at the quarter-final stage following an unimpressive performance against Italy.

"I don't think anybody in the England set-up - fans, coaches, players or management - are saying we are going to go Brazil and win it," Neville said. "When we qualified for the World Cup in 1998 in Rome by getting a draw, everyone thought it was the greatest result of all time.

"All of a sudden, we are made third or fourth favourites for the tournament, but we are not under that pressure any more. England will always put themselves under pressure to perform, the players will do, but no European team has ever won a World Cup in South America - never mind England! But we go there with probably the least pressure that any England team ever has done.

"The reality is that everyone knows where England are at the moment. It was a good achievement to qualify and hopefully we will surprise people when we get there. It would be brilliant for England to win a tournament."

Scholes, meanwhile, believes England have "no chance" of success in Brazil next summer. Click here for the full story.

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