"Every player is fully behind the manager to turn this qualification around," said Owen.

"But I don't think he is looking for excuses. If we don't qualify, I am sure he will hold up his hands and say: 'We should have done.' I think everyone will do that."

Owen does not believe English supporters are alone in wondering why they so consistently fail to land big international prizes.

As a former Real Madrid player, the 27-year-old knows how badly Spain suffer. And irrespective of how the situation unfolds for England, Owen feels they will still be regarded in a positive light.

"We are a proud nation that wants to be competing in all the big tournaments," he said.

"But we are a major force in football. In the last dozen years or so we seem to get to every major tournament and then into the last eight.

"We could easily have gone on to win one of them but there is such a fine line at the top and you do need that little bit of luck.

"It sounds like the old English hard luck story but Spain, with their massive reputation, are struggling to qualify again. They have one of the best leagues in the world, so I am sure they are saying the same things as us."