Thomas Ince has fiercely denied that England's Under-21 side lacked hunger during their dismal showing in the European Championships, insisting that his team simply did not perform when it mattered.
Stuart Pearce's Young Lions lost all three of their group matches in Israel, failing to score a goal in open play against either the hosts, Italy or Norway.
Despite widespread criticism of the England youth set-up, Ince believes that the side's star players were simply unable to match the high standards set in qualifying, dismissing questions over desire and belief in the national press.
He told The Mirror: "I don't think it's a case of us telling ourselves we are this and that. It was just the case that we didn't turn up.
"We would be the first players to hold our hands up, but as far as people questioning the hunger and the desire to play in a major tournament and win it. No, I don't think that's the case at all.
"Look at the campaign that this England Under-21 side has gone through over the last two years to actually get to the Euros, we won nearly every game and we didn't concede that many goals. It's very difficult for certain players. Maybe we were not ready for all of that. I don't know."
The 21-year-old ended a marathon season in Israel which saw the Blackpool winger voted Championship Young Player of the Year.
