• Euro 2012

Gerrard admits that he is finding England duty difficult

Steven Gerrard has admitted that he finds playing for England difficult at present - and that players suffer from a mental block when they pull on the national shirt.

Following England's desperately disappointing World Cup campaign, which ended in a second-round exit, the accusation levelled at the players was that they struggled to cope with the level of expectation heaped on their shoulders.

It was particularly disconcerting to see the England stars - Gerrard included - fail to replicate their club form in South Africa, and the 30-year-old has conceded that he does find representing his country testing.

"It is difficult to play for England at the moment as results haven't gone the way we'd like," Gerrard said. "At the moment it is tough. Maybe it is the case [that there is a mental block], but you have to take that on your shoulders for England. The mental side would only improve by winning games."

The Liverpool captain also declared his belief that it would be "stupid" and "naïve" not to support manager Fabio Capello, although he concedes that England players deserve to be booed when they face Hungary at Wembley on Tuesday.

"I've got big faith in this manager, as I've said all along," he said. "I think it'd be very stupid and naïve not to still have that confidence moving forward. He's a fantastic manager."

Gerrard also threw his support behind Capello when he waded into the row over international retirements - Wes Brown and Paul Robinson have quit England this week, despite being picked in the squad to face Hungary.

"If the manager picks you to play for England, for me you should come and play - but different players are different," he said.

Meanwhile, Bobby Zamora, who is in line to make his England debut against Hungary, is expecting some fans to make their disappointment known at Wembley but the Fulham striker insists it is time to move on.

"The squad know the reaction might be a bit mixed but that's in the past now the World Cup is in the past" he said. "I am sure everybody is looking forward to this Championship coming up. We've just got to look forward and be positive."

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