Blackpool winger Thomas Ince has defended England's U21 flops.

England were bounced out of the Euros last week with three consecutive defeats.

But Ince told the Mirror: "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.

"Look at the likes of Wilfried Zaha, who has had a very long season. He went to the Play-Off Final with Crystal Palace then comes to the Euros.

"Look at Danny Rose, who had a tough season at Sunderland [on loan from Tottenham], who were fighting relegation.

"I wouldn't say it's down to tiredness, but it has been a long season for a lot of the players. Then factor in the travelling and the fact that the games come so quickly.

"Maybe we were not ready for all of that. I don't know.