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Former defender believes that the core of the squad does not possess what it takes to beat the likes of France, Germany, Italy and Spain in the continental competition next year
Former England defender Gary Neville insists that the current national team are "not good enough" to take on the big sides in the European Championship next year.
The ex-Manchester United man's assessment comes in light of the 2-2 draw with Montenegro on Friday, as Fabio Capello's men threw away a two-goal lead to eventually draw the game.
A point was enough for the Three Lions to book their place in the 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine, but the 36-year-old remains sceptical about their mettle.
"The real issue is that the spine of the team is not good enough, as it stands, to take on Spain, Italy, France or Germany at Euro 2012," Neville wrote in The Mail on Sunday.
"We're now talking about [Wayne] Rooney possibly missing two games of Euro 2012 when what we should be talking about is the spine of a team that has no mobility and can't keep the ball.
"When I look at it coldly, a team that has John Terry, Gary Cahill, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry, Darren Bent and Rooney in its central positions is nowhere near good enough to take on the major nations such as Spain.
"I"m not having a go at individuals; there are some very good players among those names. Collectively, Rooney aside, there is hardly any pace, very little invention and hardly any rotation of positions."
He added: "Somehow, Capello has to do something that no England manager has done in 15 years, and that is make the England players believe that this next match could be the most important of their life."
England take on Spain in an international friendly at Wembley next month.
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The Three Lions boss admits he would have preferred his team to be facing different opposition than the world and European champions, but accepts he has no choice in the matter
Fabio Capello admits that he is not too keen on England playing an international friendly against Spain next month, but insists that the game has to take place because of a prior agreement.
The Three Lions finally clinched their qualification for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine next summer by holding on for a 2-2 draw with Montenegro on Friday. The point gave them 18 out of a possible 24 and guaranteed them first place in Group G.
Meanwhile, current world and European champions Spain have ensured their own entry into the Euro 2012 final tournament in convincing fashion, winning all seven of their qualifiers to date to secure an unassailable position at the top of Group I.
Now both teams will lock horns in an international friendly at Wembley in November.
"We need to play them because we played them away and this is the return," Capello said, according to The Sunday Express.
"It’s in the contract. I would prefer to play against another team. We also have to play Holland. Against Spain it will be interesting."
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The centre-half also insists that the Three Lions will be well prepared for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, now that their 2-2 draw has confirmed their place in the finals
England skipper John Terry is hoping that his international team-mate Wayne Rooney does not become the target for harsh treatment from the media following his red card against Montenegro.
The Three Lions were leading 2-1 when the Manchester United hitman kicked an opposition player, Miodrag Dzudovic, for which he was sent off for an early shower after 74 minutes.
Montenegro eventually managed to equalise during stoppage time and secure a 2-2 draw, which made no difference in terms of qualification as Fabio Capello's men had needed just a point to book direct entry into the European Championship finals as winners of their group.
But now Rooney will miss the first game of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, and could potentially miss up to three games.
"Hopefully, nobody jumps on him," Terry said, according to The Sunday Times."
Stressing Rooney's positive contribution to England's successful qualifying campaign, Terry added: "We probably wouldn’t be in the position we are without Wayne."
The Chelsea defender also reckons England will be prepared for what is to come in the continental competition, having endured a miserable showing at the 2010 World Cup.
"We all made mistakes when we were there [in South Africa]," said Terry. "Hopefully we will learn from where we went wrong in the World Cup."
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