Role reversal: Scott Parker (left) takes instruction from Gerrard

'It's no manager's fault or where I've been asked to play. You can't use that as an excuse. That's my fault. But it's difficult to perform well at this level.

'So, in an ideal situation, you want the manager to put you where you're most comfortable and where you can impact the game to the best of your ability.'

Gerrard knows England have seldom performed to their best in tournaments. But he has urged England to take encouragement from the likes of Liverpool in 2005 and Chelsea last weekend in achieving success - in their instance in the Champions League - when not expected.

He said: 'We've got a responsibility to improve our level of performance.

'If we perform like we did in South Africa, we're going home early.

'If we want to do well here, and achieve what Liverpool did in 2005 and Chelsea this year, we have to perform better but also do what those sides did well to get to the finals.

'It goes to show in these tournaments, when you know you're not the favourites and there are other top sides about, you need to battle hard and need to go where it hurts to get the big prizes.

'If you think you're going to turn up in these tournaments and come back successful, it doesn't happen like that.

'I don't think I've ever won a big trophy and it's all been pretty and nice even against sides where we've been massive favourites.'

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