The 26-year-old Liverpool captain scored England's second goal as they booked a place in the last 16 with a 2-0 win over minnows Trinidad and Tobago in Nuremberg on Thursday.

But Sven Goran Eriksson's side struggled to overcome unfancied Trinidad for long periods before finally scoring twice in the final minutes.

England had made hard work of beating Paraguay 1-0 in their opening match and the lacklustre display against the 'Soca Warriors' fuelled fears they will crash out as soon as they face stronger opposition.

Gerrard, who lifted the FA Cup trophy last month a year after inspiring Liverpool to the Champions League trophy, knows England will not win the tournament on current form and told BBC Sport as such.

"No, I don't think so, our form as a team has got to improve," said Gerrard, who missed the 2002 edition because of injury and had a poor Euro 2004.

"We need to hit top form pretty quickly. There are still a couple of gears to go into.

"It's pleasing to be in the last 16. It was really difficult out there for an hour and we were finding them really difficult to break down."

Gerrard insisted he wants to play in England's final Group B match against Sweden on Tuesday, even though another booking would rule him out of the second round clash against Germany or Ecuador.

"I think I should," he said.

"I want to play in every game but I would have to be sensible.

"It's a question (if he starts or not) that you would have to ask Sven-Goran Eriksson."