Former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has confessed that he hated being part of the England squad during his playing days, while lauding former team-mate Gareth Southgate for the cultural shift he later implemented as manager. Gerrard earned 114 senior caps for the Three Lions, playing in front of Southgate on several occasions, but the atmosphere was markedly different then compared to now.

His first cap came in May 2000, with his debut tournament appearance following shortly afterwards at that summer's European Championships. He remained a key figure in the England team until the World Cup in 2014, leading the side in losses against Italy and Uruguay. However, the ex-midfielder maintains that his international career paled in comparison to the euphoric highs he experienced with his childhood club.

During a guest spot on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Gerrard was asked about his experiences within the England camp. His response was candid.

"I hated it, I didn't enjoy it," he said. "Hated the rooms. In my early days, I'd have days where I was down, like low down. Like, I'm in this room for seven hours, what am...