'We can prove people wrong'
Steven Gerrard insists England can defy the critics and get off to a flying start in Euro 2012 when they take on France in the opening game tonight.
Liverpool's dynamic No.8 will lead Roy Hodgson's side in the Group D opener in Donetsk, and he is eager to lead the Three Lions to a first victory over a major nation in a tournanent since the 2002 World Cup.
"It's too long, especially for the standard of players we've had over the last 10 years," said Gerrard.
"That's an extra motivation going into the game and we are really looking forward to it.
"France are a good team with attacking players. If we give them took much respect they can really hurt us but I'm confident we can put that 10-year thing to bed and beat a big side in a major tournament.
"If we can beat France it will prove we can compete against any team in this tournament because I think France are one of the favourites. I'm quietly confident we can get further than the public think.
"I've said how proud I am to lead the boys out. The spirit in the camp is fantastic. The preparation has gone really well. We're itching to get started."
Asked at a press conference by a journalist whether England should be known as a major football power, Gerrard insists there is a lot of quality in Hodgson's squad.
"Questions like that are more of a motivation," he added.
"I don't see them as something to react to or an accusation. I have belief in my teammates. I see it in training, I see it week in, week out in the Premier League.
"It comes more from not performing in tournaments. But three times we have been a penalty kick away from getting to the last four. If we had done, people's perceptions would have been a lot different. In one tournament very soon it will click, we will get that bit of luck and prove an awful lot of people wrong."
The temperature in the Donbass Arena tonight is set to top 30 degrees, but the Three Lions skipper insists that won't be a major problem.
He added: "We can cope with the heat. It's important not to think too much about that.
"There will be 50,000 people there. It's what you want to be involved in. Nobody will be fearing the heat or the French. It is all about us and how we play. If we turn up and play to our level we can get the result we need.
"There's no point one or two turning up, otherwise we'll go home early. To be successful at this level everyone has to be right at it. It's the first game. It is important we don't get carried away thinking we are going to win the tournament if we win and don't commit suicide if we lose because there will still be two games to recover.
"It's not the end of the world."
Gerrard is also set to play in a more disciplined deeper role during Euro 2012 for England - a role he is more than happy to fulfil for the good of the team.
He said: "I am playing more of a disciplined role in this set-up under Roy and I'm comfortable with that," he said. "It's all about the result the team get, not about me. I think the days of me bombing forward in games every minute are gone."