Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has dismissed claims from QPR boss Harry Redknapp that certain individuals during his time at Tottenham tried to find ways of skipping international duty.
Gerrard claimed to have "never come across players like that" and highlighted the determination of the current crop, whom he knows owe it to the fans to get a positive result against Costa Rica on Tuesday.
"It is a very difficult time to be an England player at the moment," he said. "Everyone is hurting, everyone is disappointed.
"The message to the supporters is thanks for the support that they have given us, not just at the World Cup but over the last two years helping get us here.
"The players take full responsibility for not winning the two games so far. If there are people out there with strong opinions and want to point fingers and stuff, myself as the leader of this team will take full responsibility, take it on the shoulders.
"All we can do as players is stick together. We agreed before this tournament we would come in and work as hard as we can and try and fight for everything together.
"Now it has gone wrong, we have to shoulder that responsibility together. We can't allow it to just come on the manager's shoulders and coaching staff.
"We have to stand tall, be thick-skinned, take it and move on. The important thing is to think about the supporters and supporters only.
"They want a win in the last game and the players want that as well."
