Taylor worried over England slide

Former England manager Graham Taylor believes the national team are "in danger of going down the same road as Scotland" in becoming a second-rate side in international terms.

The former Aston Villa and Watford boss, now a summariser for BBC Radio Five Live, believes fans need to lower their expectations of the team.

He told the Daily Mirror: "We're a quarter-final team, not a genuine world force. But unless we realise it then this hammering of the manager will continue."

Taylor blames the influx of foreign players into the Premiership for England's decline, with victory essential in Estonia on Wednesday night if Steve McClaren's side are to have any chance of qualifying for Euro 2008.

He added: "Steve will have fewer and fewer players to choose from because 60% of Premiership players are foreign, and that number will get higher and higher.

"We're in danger of going down the same road as Scotland and becoming a second division team in world football - and I mean no disrespect to Scotland by that.

"Managers get judged on results but, in this country, we expect results that we are not capable of."