Steve Gerrard has admitted he will happily swap playing flair football to be part of a team not as exciting to watch if it means England finally flourish under new head coach Fabio Capello.

The Liverpool skipper has witnessed too many disappointments for his own liking with his country and still feels the "hurt" of not qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals.

Already Capello has stressed the need for England to become stronger defensively in his brief spell with the players ahead of Wednesday's friendly international with Switzerland at Wembley.

The Italian is known to like to play with two holding midfielders and Gerrard will happily sacrifice some of England's attacking potency if the end product is some silverware.

Gerrard, one of the candidates to lead the side against the Swiss in the absence of the injured John Terry, said: "As players you want to win and, whatever it takes, you do it.

"I've seen teams throughout my football career who are very good to watch and play some really stuff - but they don't win.

"If I had the choice, I would certainly rather play for a team that is more difficult to beat but maybe is not as good on the eye.

"If I went on to achieve something with England, with a team that was a bit more defensive and won matches, I'd happily take that option now."

Gerrard admits the disappointment of England not being part of the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland will linger on throughout the summer.

But he is aware of the need to not only impress Capello but also to restore some confidence and the winning habit during the friendly matches before the 2010 World Cup qualifiers get under way in September.

He said: "I think the hurt is still there of not qualifying and it will be there all through the summer when we are watching the tournament.

"But I think what will help that hurt is to get back winning in an England shirt.

"If we can win two or three friendlies until the end of the season, try and get a bit of confidence back, that will help us get over the hurt of failing to qualify.

"The fans deserve success. You look at it and think there is only one way this team can go because we have underachieved and failed to qualify."

Gerrard added: "You look at our results in not qualifying for the Euros and there are a lot of things that need changing.

"In the qualifying group we were in, we should have got through comfortably.

"There are going to be changes and it is going to take time before we know the changes Fabio wants to make.

"He has told us he wants players showing they are worthy of a starting place and that we all start with a clean sheet with no-one guaranteed a place in the side."

Capello is renowned for often not naming his starting line-up until near kick-off time but Gerrard insisted: "I am used to that. I experience that with Liverpool most games.

"Rafael Benitez picks the team an hour and a half before kick-off. If Fabio decides to do that, I'll be well prepared."

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