England men's team given reality check by Mary Earps as Lionesses star weighs in on Euros 'pressure' after Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham & Declan Rice complaints about media 'negativity'

Earps was part of the England women's team that won the Euros in 2022 and reached the 2023 Women's World Cup final. Such results have heaped pressure on the Lionesses, something that they've had to grow to deal with having never won a major tournament until two years ago. That pressure is something the men's team have been coping with too, especially as the 'favourites' tag has been attached to them more since reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the Euros final in 2021.

The high expectations on Gareth Southgate's side have been evident in the criticism received for some lacklustre performances on their way to the quarter-finals of this year's Euros, which players such as Bellingham, Harry Kane and Declan Rice have hit out at. "It’s been tough the last week or so to keep the negative energy out of the camp," Bellingham said on Sunday, after he helped the Three Lions scrape past Slovakia in extra time in the last 16.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Earps was asked if she had any words of advice for the men's side as they prepare for Saturday's quarter-final clash with Switzerland. “It’s a world of public opinion and that pressure to deliver and perform is a privilege,” she said. “I don’t know where that quote comes from but there is an expectation that you can deliver a really high level of performance. People think you are fantastic players and of course sometimes it can be difficult to deal with but the reality is that is what comes with having great talent in your team. As England, there is always pressure. That is always how it is. Before the Euros we won [in 2022] there was always talk about England winning a tournament. It kind of comes with the territory. It’s sometimes not nice but I know the boys will be good.”

This weekend, England are bidding to get past the quarter-final stage at the men's Euros for just the second time this century. It's a hurdle they fell at in 2004 and 2012 and a stage they didn't even reach in 2000 or 2016.

Southgate's side will face Switzerland in Dusseldorf in Saturday after Murat Yakin's side impressively disposed of reigning European champions Italy in the last 16.