Harry Kane says England's drab draw with Denmark will be a distant memory if the Three Lions go on to succeed at Euro 2024, with no "straight line" to success.
Gareth Southgate's side disappointed for large parts in Thursday's 1-1 draw with Denmark but are still in control of Group C heading into the final matchday.
England face Slovenia on Tuesday, when Denmark also meet Serbia, with Southgate's men boasting a two-point advantage and pole position in their hands.
Yet there has been added scrutiny after an underwhelming showing in their last outing, with Kane facing criticism for his part in an uninspired England performance.
The England captain insists all will be forgotten if the Three Lions can respond and go deep into the tournament in Germany.
"I think that's part of having the experience and using that to your advantage," Kane said at Sunday's pre-match press conference.
"It would be silly just to forget all those past experiences and past tournaments because they can be really helpful and really useful. That's what I try and do.
"I think a lot of the players who have been here for a long time do the same and you have the responsibility to try and share that with the other players. Major tournaments are tough, like I touched on, there's always going to be ups and downs.
"It's never just a straight line to the top, or not in our experience. We know how much it took to get close in the last Euros [in 2021].
"The bottom line is where you finish in the tournament. No one is going to remember the 1-1 draw against Denmark if we go all the way and win it. That's just the reality.
"It's just understanding that you don't get too carried away if you're winning games and don't get too down if you're playing as we've played so far in the tournament.
"It's just about pushing on and finding a way to make sure we get to the knockout stage. And then once we're there, knockout football is ours to take."
Southgate's future has also come under speculation, with the England manager's current contract ending in December and Manchester United reportedly showing interest before sticking with Erik ten Hag.
Many have pointed their frustrations at Southgate's tactics with England failing to get the best out of a host of starts, including Premier League champion Phil Foden and Champions League winner Jude Bellingham.
Yet Kane placed his full backing in Southgate, urging critics to look at where the manager has taken them from.
"I can't speak highly enough of Gareth and what he's done for the team, for this nation in terms of where we were and where we are now as a national team is completely different," he added.
"I think he's brilliant on the details, making sure that there's no stone unturned and that we know everyone knows what they're going to be doing going into games.
"Just as a person and giving us the freedom to be ourselves and whether that's on the pitch or off the pitch, just to feel comfortable doing that.
"I think being England manager is a really difficult job. That's the bottom line. He knows that and we all know that.
"There's always going to be people who maybe criticise him or doubt him, but I think his record speaks for itself. He's been extremely successful with us.
"Like all of us, I know he wants to, and we want to take that next step and win it.
"We're all really determined to do that so he will do what's best for the nation, he will make the decision what's best for the team and all I'd say is to just get behind him."
Benzema: Mbappe must adapt to Madrid role and forget 'best in world' Vinicius
Kylian Mbappe must learn to play as a central striker at Real Madrid because he cannot displace Vinicius Junior on the left wing.
Those were the words of Los Blancos' second-highest scorer of all time, Karim Benzema.
Mbappe has scored eight goals in 14 appearances in all competitions for Madrid since his move from Paris Saint-Germain, but has failed to score in his last five games.
The 26-year-old has been deployed in a more central role since under Carlo Ancelotti, as opposed to the wide role where he enjoyed success with the Parisiens.
"The problem, in my opinion, is that [Mbappe] is not a central striker, even with the national team, every time he plays as a number nine he doesn't feel right, because that's not his position," Benzema said on Spanish television show El Chiringuito.
"On the left, he's got a guy who's at the same level as him, Vinicius, so there is a problem.
"You can't play Vinicius as a number nine or on the right, because when he plays on the left he makes the difference in every game.
"Mbappe isn't a real number nine. People ask a lot of him and he's under a lot of pressure, this isn't Paris Saint-Germain."
The France captain has underperformed his expected goals (xG) figure in LaLiga by 1.75 this term, recording a shot conversion rate of just 18.18% from his 33 total attempts.
He has also missed seven big chances, with only Real Betis duo Abde Ezzalzouli and Vitor Roque (both eight) and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski (11) wasting more in LaLiga.
In Madrid's last game, a 4-0 Clasico defeat, Mbappe recorded just 27 touches. Only Aurelien Tchouameni (24) registered fewer among those who started the encounter.
Benzema also endured a difficult start to life in the Spanish capital, netting just nine goals in his 33 appearances in all competitions in his debut season after his move from Lyon.
He would, however, go on to become one of Madrid's best ever players, scoring 354 times in 648 outings, a total that puts him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo (450) in the club's history.
Benzema won 25 major honours during his time at the club, also scooping the Ballon d'Or in 2022, and had some advice for his compatriot moving forward.
"Don't give up, because I don't think he's going to push Vinicius to move. He's the best player in the world at the moment," Benzema added.
"Mbappe needs to get it into his head that today he's a number nine, and forget about the left flank for a while."
Mbappe will be back in action for Madrid on Tuesday when they face Milan in the Champions League.
Luis Enrique in awe of Simeone energy ahead of reunion
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique was full of praise for his former rival Diego Simeone as he prepares to go head-to-head with the Atletico Madrid boss in the Champions League.
PSG and Atletico, who reached the semi-finals and the quarter-finals respectively last season, will face off on Wednesday having both won just one of their three league-phase games.
A home victory would boost PSG, currently 19th with four points, while Atletico, languishing in 27th on three, are aiming to recover from back-to-back losses.
PSG have never faced Atletico in the Champions League before but Luis Enrique's Barcelona defeated Simeone's Atletico side nine times in their 14 meetings between 2014 and 2017, drawing twice and losing three times.
Luis Enrique led Barca to a Champions League and LaLiga double in 2014-15 followed by another league title the following year.
"We've played against each other as players and then as managers. I admire Simeone, when a coach can stay for so many years at a top club it means he is great because that is such a difficult thing to do," Luis Enrique told reporters on Tuesday.
Simeone has managed Atletico for 13 years, guiding them to two LaLiga titles and two Europa League crowns, though the Madrid side had considered hiring Luis Enrique prior to Simeone's arrival.
"I had given my word to another club. If I had gone to Atleti, I would not have stayed half as long as Simeone because I don't have the energy as him," added Luis Enrique.
"They are lucky to have found Simeone as a coach. You need a lot of energy, to be able to convince all your players over the long-term."
PSG, having lost Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the close season, have just two goals in their three Champions League games, beating Girona 1-0 but drawing 1-1 with PSV and losing 2-0 at Arsenal.
"I have no doubt we can improve in defence and attack, whether it is with the defender duos of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, or Milan Skriniar and Lucas Beraldo, or in the midfield," Luis Enrique said.
"I understand you want to discuss individual players, but we analyse things from a broader perspective.
"What interests me is to always generate goalscoring opportunities and to arrive in the penalty area because you have managed to be stronger than your opponent.
"That is my objective as a coach: to always generate opportunities."
Close-season signing Matvey Safonov, who kept a clean sheet in their opening win against Girona, might replace number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose mistakes proved costly at Arsenal and against PSV.
"You will find out tomorrow. After a good cup of cappuccino, I will decide who the goalkeeper is," Luis Enrique said.
Neymar suffers fresh injury blow
Neymar sustained a new injury as he was forced off during Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League Elite win over Esteghlal.
Aleksandar Mitrovic plundered a hat-trick on Monday to seal a 3-0 win.
But Al-Hilal's victory was soured by an injury to Neymar, who had to make way just 29 minutes after he came on as a second-half substitute.
The Brazilian, who has just returned from over a year out of action following a serious knee injury, was forced off with what appeared to be a thigh issue.
Indeed, Monday's appearance was only the 32-year-old's second for Al-Hilal since his comeback.
He has featured just seven times for the Saudi Pro League champions in all competitions since his big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
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