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England can be group winners says Gerrard
Midfielder Steven Gerrard said on Monday England should not settle for second place in their group despite their poor Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
"I'm not going to concede that straight away," Gerrard said with England fourth in Group E five points behind leaders Croatia and facing a real threat of failing to qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
"I've looked at the (remaining) games and that is why I'm not going to say we are playing for second just yet," he told reporters ahead of England's game in Estonia on Wednesday.
"I'm confident that if we can turn our form around and start playing at a higher level we can beat all those sides."
Croatia lead the group with 16 points from six games, Israel have 14 after seven, Russia 14 and England 11 from six.
"There's a big game on Wednesday between Russia and Croatia. I think we'll have a clearer picture after Wednesday," Gerrard said.
"All those teams have still got to come to us, come to Wembley."
Buoyed by Friday's 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil, he added: "If we play like we did the other day we can beat all of them."
Having lost to Croatia and drawn 0-0 with Macedonia and Israel, a run of wins would also ease the pressure on coach Steve McClaren.
"Stick comes with any manager's job. But it's no good us as players hiding behind that," Gerrard said.
"We've got to get out there and take the heat off him. We are the so-called best players in England.
"We're getting picked to go out there and do a job. It's down to us as well."
England can be group winners says Gerrard(Over)
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