England Stars Call For Calm Amid Nations League Woes
England players have been calling for calm following their relegation from the top tier of the UEFA Nations League.
A 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday will ensure that irrespective of their result against Germany on Monday, the Three Lions will finish bottom of Group A3.
England have now gone five matches without a win for the first time since 2014, and have gone five competitive matches without winning for the first time since 1992.
Amid this worrying run of form, questions are being raised about England's credentials for the upcoming World Cup, where they have been placed in the same group with the USA, Iran and Wales in Qatar.
But defender Harry Maguire and Declan Rice believe there is no cause for alarm at this point in time.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Maguire said: "We're a strong group mentally - we've given people an unbelievable five years or so.
"We're in a period where we have to come together. The fans are probably frustrated and they have to stick with us because we've got a big tournament coming up.
"To win that tournament or progress in that tournament we need the fans with us, so whatever has happened in recent months we are working tirelessly hard to improve that and get back on track, because it is a big winter and World Cup and we need to make sure we're ready - and we will be."
Rice told Channel 4: "It's obviously disappointing. Every tournament we go into, we set out to win.
"In the Nations League we have slipped below our standards but I didn't think it was all bad tonight. We just lacked that cutting edge in the end."
"It's coming. It was a much better performance tonight than we saw in the summer.
"It's not that we're not creating the chances. So many times tonight we got into the opposition's box. I see it in training, there are goals for fun.
"Trust me, we are going to be good."
