England’s senior stars make PLEA to their team-mates after alarming performance against Denmark… amid concerns over how the team’s younger lions will react to abysmal draw

England’s seniors players pleaded with their team-mates not to panic immediately after Thursday’s dreadful performance against Denmark.

Mail Sport understands the squad’s most experienced members made a particular effort to ensure the players remained calm in the dressing room after the disappointing draw.

England were booed off by their own supporters while pundits have slammed their performance, with Gareth Southgate considering making changes to his side for Tuesday’s game against Slovenia.

Around half of the England squad are participating in their first major tournament, raising concerns over how the younger players may react to Thursday’s poor performance.

But the team’s senior stars have stressed the importance of not allowing negativity to seep into the camp, with morale described as ’stable’ by well-placed sources as Southgate’s stalwarts moved to quell any overreaction to the draw.

England’s senior stars have urged their younger counterparts not to worry after the 1-1 draw with Denmark 

Morale is seen as ‘stable’ despite concerns over how the squad’s younger stars might react

Nevertheless, there is a sense among the players that Southgate will alter the starting XI ahead of their final Group C game in Cologne next week.

There will be question marks over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role in the team after he was substituted in the 54th minute of the draw against Denmark with Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton all potential replacements for the Liverpool captain in central midfield.

 ‘We’ll have a look at everything,’ answered Southgate, when asked about potential changes to his team on Tuesday night.

Questions remain over Harry Kane’s overall fitness, too.

There are fears within the camp that the Bayern Munich star is still being hampered by the back problem that ended his domestic season early, although Southgate insists his striker is injury free.

And while there has been no indication that Southgate, despite substituting Kane in the draw against Denmark, would consider dropping his skipper, the England head coach is continuing to monitor the striker’s fitness.

Southgate, meanwhile, has urged his struggling team to embrace the growing scrutiny on the team following their lacklustre start to the tournament.

‘We have to accept the level of expectations, we have to accept the arena we are in. And we have to find a better way of playing to how we have so far,’ he said.

There are also fears in the camp over Harry Kane’s fitness following his back trouble

Gareth Southgate conceded that his Three Lions team are not playing in a ‘calm’ manner 

‘They are running, they are giving everything, but at the moment the emotion and the way we are playing isn’t calm in the moments we need it to be. 

‘To go to the stages of the competition that we want to end up in, that has to be better. We know that.

‘We’re in an intense arena and have to find a way of embracing that, walking towards the challegne and understanding what it is and playing in a more composed manner than we have so far.

Meanwhile, the families of players are considering speaking to the Football Association with a view to sitting behind the dugouts for the rest of England’s games here at Euro 2024.

Loved ones were sat opposite the tunnel and dugouts against Denmark which created difficulties in friends and family seeing players after the final whistle.

And some families want to explore whether it is possible for them to be located behind the dugouts to make it easier for them connect with the squad after the game