World Cup 2014: Steven Gerrard happy that Germany loss will lower expectations around England

England captain says post-qualifying results mean there will be 'more realism out there' about World Cup chances

Steven Gerrard tangles with Germany’s Max Kruse (Getty Images)

Expectations are already in retreat after England's back-to-back Wembley defeats this week, but captain Steven Gerrard does not think that is a bad thing.

As a veteran of the "Golden Generation", as part of the England squads that went to Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup and were expected to win, Gerrard knows how unhelpfully heavy expectations can be. Those England teams were better than this one but Gerrard, speaking after the 1-0 defeat to Germany on Tuesday night, thought that might well be for the best.

"I think it will be [helpful]," Gerrard said, hoping that his team will not be burdened by the usual pressure in Brazil next summer. "You go into a World Cup where people judge you fairly, and they're not blowing you up to what you're not going to be, and there's not too much pressure and expectation on the players, I'm sure that will help us."

This certainly represents a change from the peak years of the last decade, starting with the 2002 World Cup, which a 22-year-old Gerrard missed with a groin injury. But that was just nine months after the famous 5-1 win in Munich, in which Gerrard scored a brilliant goal. This week, England lost to Germany at Wembley, and Gerrard expects a deflationary effect.

"I think these results will bring people a little bit down from where they were after Poland and Montenegro, there will be a bit of realism and perspective out there," Gerrard said, before adding that these November friendlies are not just about results.

"I think it's important people are not too harsh on us. These games are all about experimenting and trying things, and when we get our full team and our full strength back, with the likes of [Danny] Welbeck, [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain and [Theo] Walcott, we'll have a good team and a team that can go to the World Cup and compete."

But Gerrard was realistic enough to acknowledge what has been clear for some time, that England are not among the likeliest teams to win next year's tournament.

"We're not one of the favourites. We know that," he said. "But, at the same time, you've got to go into the tournament with a bit of belief and confidence. But of course there are better teams out there than us – you only need to look at the rankings where we are. But of course we've got to go in there and give it our best shot."

Perhaps the strongest positive of Tuesday's game was a generally safe performance from Joe Hart – recently dropped by Manchester City – who was blameless for the goal and made some good saves. "I thought it was great for him tonight," Gerrard said of the man who is still England's No 1. "I think he's had a really tough time for him recently, but I've been on record to say he's got the character and ability to bounce back, and I thought he was our best player tonight."