Former England forward Teddy Sheringham has told Roy Hodgson's men that they must adopt a "prove 'em wrong" attitude at Euro 2012.

Expectation within the country is low going into the tournament, with a number of issues distracting the team from their preparations.

The Three Lions have also been plagued by injury, with Gareth Barry, Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill and Frank Lampard all missing in Poland and Ukraine.

There have also been negative headlines with regard to Rio Ferdinand's omission from the 23-man squad.

However, Sheringham has shed a ray of light on proceedings by reminding the nation that the Euro 1996 squad also came in for criticism leading up to the tournament.

Terry Venables guided his team to the semi-final that year, where they were beaten on penalties by eventual champions Germany.

"We had so much stick going into the Euros in 1996," The Mirror quotes Sheringham as saying. "All we did was make it work for us. It was a prove 'em wrong approach – but it worked.

"The feeling was that we were one unit. That is what Roy Hodgson must do now. So many things have gone wrong – the ­headlines about John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, the injuries to Gareth Barry, Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill and Frank Lampard and, just last week, the terrible personal tragedy for Jermain Defoe whose dad has passed away.

"Now he will rely on the likes of the big players in the team, the big personalities. I am thinking of Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Ashley Cole. They have a big part to play."

Sheringham won 51 caps for England, scoring 11 goals.