Steven Gerrard Criticizes England Team Spirit and Rivalries

Steven Gerrard has described his former England teammates as “egotistical losers” who failed to look beyond their club rivalries, which he believes contributed to the national team’s lack of success during his international tenure. The Liverpool legend, who earned 114 caps from 2000 to 2014, played under several managers including Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roy Hodgson.

Gerrard highlighted the culture within the England squad as a major issue, emphasizing that rivalry and ego prevented players from forming strong bonds. He expressed disappointment that teammates like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, now close friends, couldn’t connect during their playing days. Gerrard lamented that the squad was never truly cohesive or united.

“We were all egotistical losers,” Gerrard admitted, noting how now these players appear much closer, sitting together on TV and working together professionally. He questioned why such connections weren’t possible earlier, suggesting the environment within the national team discouraged team spirit. Gerrard described his experience with England as feeling disconnected, contrasting it with his feelings when playing for Liverpool, where he felt like part of a strong team.

The midfielder reflected on the “underlying bitterness” among players, which stemmed from competing for trophies at club level before joining the national team environment. He retired following England’s early exit in the 2014 World Cup, ranking fourth in appearances.

Gerrard praised current manager Gareth Southgate for improving England’s culture and team cohesion. Since taking charge in 2016, Southgate led England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, and to consecutive European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024, along with reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Gerrard considers Southgate underrated for his ability to connect with the team, suggesting talent and opportunity were always there. He expressed frustration with England’s inability to achieve more, attributing part of the failure to a lack of genuine team spirit during his playing days. He concluded that England has historically been a group of talented individuals rather than a cohesive team.