Declan Rice believes England are so desperate to end a 58-year wait for a major men's trophy that they are putting too much pressure on themselves to deliver at Euro 2024.
England are in a good position to advance to the last 16 from Group C after drawing 1-1 with Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday evening.
But the manner of the performance from the side picked by Gareth Southgate has led to criticism of both the players and the manager – including loud jeering greeting the final whistle at the Deutsche Bank Arena.
Offering an honest assessment of his own performance, Arsenal midfielder Rice conceded he "wasn’t the best" he could have been on the night, while Southgate and captain Harry Kane also called for improvement against Slovenia next week.
Southgate said he thinks his squad may "care too much" about achieving something no senior men’s England side has managed since lifting the World Cup in 1966.
Rice agreed with his manager when asked if it is hard to keep emotions in check at a major tournament: "Yes, I think we are all so desperate to do the country proud," he said.
"We are all so desperate to win, to be leaders, to go out there and give people memories for lifetimes and sometimes I maybe feel like we put too much pressure on ourselves where we could just go out there and let it just take care of ourselves.
"But look – two games, one win, one draw. And now we go into that last game. Our objective is always to qualify and I’m sure we can still do that.
"Look, we know we can be better, for sure, in and out of possession and there is lots to improve on which is a positive in a way.
"We’ll be fine, we’ll recover well, and we’ve got one more to go."
Southgate had led England to a World Cup semi-final and the final of Euro 2020, becoming the closest manager to match Alf Ramsey’s success almost six decades ago.
With some of the players now at his disposal, this is arguably more expectancy on Southgate to deliver in Germany than at any previous tournament.
"I think there is probably more pressure now from the outside just because of the seasons some of our players have had," added Rice.
"If you look at the goals that our front four (Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden) have scored this year, it’s over 100 between them.
"Of course there is expectation because they are the best players in the world. And that goes for everyone throughout the team. There’s going to be that pressure.
"This is England, a major tournament. But look this is our job and this is what we have to deal with. At the end of the day it’s us, we’ve played in high-pressure games, high-pressure environments.
"It’s all about us on the pitch to be able to get it done and obviously a draw with not the best performance. I think as a group, even just speaking after we know we can be collectively better and we’ll review it again and be ready for the next one."
Speaking on the BBC on Friday night, former England captain Alan Shearer said that Southgate's side have been playing with confusion at the tournament so far.
"They look confused to me as players as to when and how to go and the timing of it – where they want to press the opposition," said the ex-Three Lions striker.
"At the minute in the first two games and certainly (against Denmark) it’s far too easy for the opposition."
Speaking on the same broadcast, former Spain and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas says England’s lack of press has caused issues.
"I’m trying to still understand what they want to do in each game," Fabregas said.
"They are adapting depending on what the other team is doing – if they let them play they play, if they are put under pressure they go deep, if they have time to play three touches they will play three touches. I would like to see a little more confidence going forward.
"I think Harry (Kane) doesn’t have the legs anymore to press too high because you can see the other ones; Jude Bellingham – fresh, full of energy, Phil Foden, (Bukayo) Saka does it for Arsenal and (Declan) Rice presses really high for Arsenal.
"So all these qualities are there to be done, but of course one person not doing it can kill the function of the whole game."
Thursday’s match saw further concerns raised about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role in midfield and the Liverpool player was replaced by Conor Gallagher in the 54th minute.
Speaking post-match, Southgate admitted Alexander-Arnold’s midfield position is an "experiment" and that there has been no "natural replacement" for Kalvin Phillips, words former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes could come back to haunt the England boss.
"I don’t think you can go into a major tournament and say you’re experimenting," he said.
"That’s a strong word to say and if England don’t go far in this competition I think he might regret that."
Shearer added: "I was really surprised by his words after the game in terms of Kalvin Phillips. I don’t go along with that.
"He’s got (Adam) Wharton come onto the scene in the Premier League, (Kobbie) Mainoo’s done that. He has experimented with Trent in midfield and it hasn’t worked, that’s one position that has to change in the next game."
Watch every game from Euro 2024 on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player as well as highlights and goals as they happen on RTÉ Sport digital platforms
