Matt Le Tissier says England expectations may need to be lowered

By Matt Le Tissier, Football Expert @mattletiss7

Matt Le Tissier believes England are not the force they once were and need to lower their expectations going forward.

Gareth Southgate's side held on for a 0-0 draw in Slovenia on Tuesday following an underwhelming 2-0 win over minnows Malta on Saturday.

Southgate, who replaced Sam Allardyce on an interim basis in September, has two more games in charge, a World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly versus Spain, before the Football Association makes a decision on his long-term future.

Gareth Southgate was frustrated as England failed to win in Slovenia and conceded his side had to be happy with a 0-0 draw

But former England international Le Tissier is unsure the next boss - whoever that may be - can have the desired impact, suggesting the current group of players may not be good enough to meet expectations.

"To be honest, I'm not really sure it matters who the England manager is at the moment," Le Tissier told Sky Sports News HQ.

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"I think the way we are playing and the squad we have, it doesn't seem whoever is in charge can get the best out of them.

"It might be that maybe we're just not good enough and we have to accept we're not the force we once were and perhaps we have to lower our sights a little bit."

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Image: Joe Hart made a number of spectacular saves against Slovenia

Joe Hart came to England's rescue against Slovenia, who sit 67th in the FIFA world rankings, as Southgate's men stuttered to a goalless World Cup qualifying draw in Ljubljana.

Le Tissier believes England still lack "a club culture" at international level, and said instilling that mentality will be the main task as they attempt to qualify for the 2018 finals in Russia.

"Unfortunately we have kind of got used to those kinds of performances, which is a bit of a shame," he added. "We had to rely on Joe Hart, which is something you wouldn't have said before the game, to come out of it with a point.

Image: Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak denies Daniel Sturridge on Tuesday

"They have to get some type of club culture going on with England. It's very difficult and I know they have tried to do it but it is so difficult to merge a lot of different players from a lot of different clubs into one style of play and for everyone to be comfortable with it.

"That's why the England manager's job is such a tricky one, and so well paid. It is pretty complicated."

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