The Chelsea midfielder expressed disappointment that several former players now working in the media, have had harsh words about England's performances.

Though Lampard did not name names, it is clear that his rebuke was directed at former skipper Alan Shearer, now working as a pundit for the BBC.

"We are fortunate enough to get English TV and we see it," said Lampard. "Theres nothing worse than seeing an ex-player who has played in the pressure cooker situation of a World Cup come out and give negative remarks.

"It's very easy to give a negative remark rather than something constructive and it only makes an issue of things.

"I certainly dont like to see ex-players having a pop at me or my teammates. Ex-players should know better.

"You certainly won't see me sitting in 20 or 30 years' time, slagging off an England team performance," added Lampard. "Shoot me if you do."

Other former England internationals believed to have irked Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad include Ian Wright, Chris Waddle and Terry Butcher.

Lampard diplomatically declined to specify who exactly he was talking about.

"I just stand by what I said. I suppose we are talking about recent ex-internationals," he said.

"When you play for England its the best thing you can do in football.

"There are so many great things about playing for England but one of the hard things that comes into it is the press and the criticism you get when there's a bad result.

"We understand that, but the one thing you ask as a player is that an ex-player whos been through this doesnt add to it."

Shearer has been particularly scathing of England's performances so far, two lacklustre victories over Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, criticising the team's performance and Eriksson's tactics.