Gary Cahill refuses to read too much into world rankings slip and poor summer for England

The Three Lions are now 15th in the world

Gary Cahill (GETTY IMAGES)

Gary Cahill refuses to subscribe to the theory English football is on its knees due to a succession of setbacks over the summer.

Following hot on the heels of Stuart Pearce's Under-21 side failing to get out of their group at the European Championships, the Under-20 counterparts also failed to win a match at their World Cup competition.

If that did not provide enough ammunition for England's critics, the rankings released by FIFA last week confirmed a slide down to 15th spot, their worst position since 2008.

Yet, speaking on behalf of England team sponsors Vauxhall at a youth event in Fareham, Cahill does not feel there is any need for recrimination.

"I don't think that at all," he said.

"When things go well with England, you get the pats on the back. When they don't go well it is like the end of the world.

"For the younger age groups it is about the importance of tournament experience. Whether you do well or badly, you take positives from it.

"And I wouldn't read too much into the slip in the rankings.

"No one from our side was going that crazy when we were third. But all of a sudden, we are 15th and supposed to be all over the place.

"That is not the case at all."

Indeed, though the FIFA ranking situation may become an issue should England finish runners-up in their World Cup qualifying group and have to reach Brazil through the play-offs, Cahill is confident by the time the Three Lions have played their final four games, the situation will have improved significantly.

"We have four games left. If we get the results we are hoping for, and which many people expect, the rankings will change and will be a fairer reflection of where we are," he said.

Certainly Cahill does not see how the slide can be justified in results terms given England's last outing saw them emerge with a creditable draw against a Brazil side that were about to brush aside all challengers - including Spain - at the Confederations Cup.

"We have played against both Brazil and Spain recently and had good results," he said.

"In that match at the Maracana in June we found ourselves under a lot of pressure and had to defend well as a team.

"If you look at what they went on to achieve at the Confederations Cup, it was a positive result."

Gary Cahill presented Crofton Saints Under 14's with their new kit for the season courtesy of Vauxhall Eden Fareham as part of the Vauxhall youth programme. Follow VauxhallEngland on twitter.

PA