Former England captain Steven Gerrard says he sometimes “hated” being on international duty and blames a lack of success with the Three Lions on a shortage of team spirit.
Gerrard, 45, won 114 caps and played at six major tournaments without reaching a semi-final.
Part of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’, he believes an England manager should have been able to play him with Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and Manchester United’s Paul Scholes in a successful midfield.
Gerrard, who played his full career in England with Liverpool before a final season at LA Galaxy, says players at the time were too reluctant to mix with team-mates who played for rival clubs.
Speaking as a guest on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, external, Gerrard said: “We were all egotistical losers.
“I watch the telly now and I see Jamie Carragher sitting next to Paul Scholes and they look like they’ve been best mates for 20 years.
“And I see Carragher’s relationship with Gary Neville and they look like they’ve been mates for 20 years. I’m probably more close and friendly with you [Ferdinand] now than I ever was when I played with you for 15 years [for England].
“So why didn’t we connect when we were 20, 21, 22, 23? Was it ego? Was it rivalry?
“It was down to the culture within England. We weren’t friendly or connected. We weren’t a team. We never at any stage became a real good, strong team.”
