Parker: England's young Lions must show no fear to taste Euro 2020 glory

Paul Parker has told Gareth Southgate's young England stars to remain fearless in their quest for Euro 2020 glory. 

Parker was 26 and had just a handful of international caps under his belt when he helped the Three Lions reach the World Cup semi-finals in 1990. 

And the former QPR, Manchester United and Chelsea defender believes Phil Foden and Mason Mount, who are experiencing a tournament summer for the first time, must stay positive no matter what.

Self-belief key for youngsters

Parker, who made six appearances at Italia 90, said: "You have to go in there and be fearless. I was lucky as I was like that because I never expected to be there.

"Expectation is high now with players and the self-belief is there — more so than what it was in my time. If you have not got that self-belief, you can just get trodden all over. 

"Especially as everyone is in your face now. If they’re not in your face physically, they’re in your face online. 

"So you have to go in there and grab it and always remember there is an opportunity you can go and do it again. It’s not the be all and end all if you don’t achieve it.

"People are always going to want you to win, other people are always going to be negative. All you hope is that the people next to you have the same thoughts as you and that they want it. 

"I was desperate to win and my ego wanted me to win. I was thinking about all the things that come if you win the World Cup. 

"I saw what happened after getting to the semi-final and what it did for me as a person. I’m gutted and jealous I never got the opportunity to go and actually win it!"

England will need to be lucky

If Gareth Southgate’s side are to succeed at Euro 2020, Parker believes they will need a bit of luck along the way.

While people always expect England to do well at major tournaments, the fact the Premier League is regarded so highly has no no bearing in the 57-year-old's mind. 

Speaking exclusively to LiveScore, he added: "People expect us to go out there and win it because nowadays the Premier League is the best in the world and that should be a reason why you should win. No! 

"Sometimes you win a tournament by luck. It’s not always the best team who win it. 

"It’s not a league, it’s a cup competition after the group stage, so you need a bit of luck. Some teams don’t get a lot of luck and I’d say in 1990 we never got the rub of the green. 

"The game [semi-final] should have been won before we got to penalties [against West Germany]. That’s what happens. 

"In extra-time it could have been different and we could have had two  goals. It didn’t materialise so you go to the lottery and we didn’t win it."