FA must support players - Venables - Sport in brief

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Venables was Steve McClaren's assistant for the recent unsuccessful Euro 2008 campaign, having previously managed the team himself for the 1996 European Championships, and he insists new manager Fabio Capello's squad must be given every available resource to succeed.

"All parts, from the Football Association to those involved in the football itself, have to look at themselves, strip it down and see where the problems are," said Venables. "But then it has to be backed. It's no good leaving players to their own devices to get results and say, 'it's nothing to do with me'."

He added: "It's about saying, 'have we all done enough'? because we are all in it, and some of the answers are not particularly good, so we have to look at it.

"If you want success it has to happen. The FA has a big job on, and they have to get down to the problems because with any business, it starts with the people at the top.

"You need big men to stand up and say 'this is not right', and 'why isn't it right'? and to get people who are prepared to say what they think without others getting upset by that."

Venables dismissed suggestions the modern-day pampered millionaire footballers no longer had a passion to play for the national team.

"I do think they care, but there are pressures such as those from the press and everyone," added the former Tottenham and Barcelona boss.

"They do get higher, but if you are going to do it at the top level then you are there to be shot at.

"People ask why they can't do it, but they have shown they can do it. They just have to show it even more."