Lampard has been impressed with Ecuador

England only need to draw to top Group B, but that could still leave them facing hosts Germany in the last 16.

Lampard said: "It's impossible to go into a game considering getting a negative result - we would be letting ourselves down and our fans down.

"I have no preference for who we play. We will be a difficult opponent."

Interview: Frank Lampard

The Chelsea midfielder added: "Sweden is a one-off game that's important for us to top our group and go into the next game with confidence."

Germany and Ecuador are level on points in Group A and face each other on Tuesday.

I am pretty pleased with the way the first two games have gone as concerns me and Frank Steven Gerrard

But Ecuador have the superior goal difference, meaning Germany need to win the game to be certain of facing the runners-up in England's group in the last 16.

Lampard said both teams could be a threat. "Germany are the host nation and Ecuador are playing some great football," he said.

England have not beaten Sweden since May 1968 and Steven Gerrard said he and his team-mates were determined to end the barren run.

"We have got to show them a lot of respect, but the boys were saying today we need to get a win against them pretty soon," the Liverpool midfielder said.

"We are confident we can progress in this tournament. The bigger the game the more you are up for it and the better you play.

"But Sweden are a very difficult team to play against - they have some very good individual players who can change a game and score goals."

Sweden need a draw to ensure their progress to the next round, but Gerrard thinks they will play an attacking game and that could help England.

"They'll come at England and try to win the game," he said. "The game will be much more open than our previous ones in the group."

Gerrard admitted England needed to improve on their showings in their first two matches against Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago.

606 VIEW We've probably had the most solid defence so far. If our matchwinners can get their first goal out of the way and get the taste for more we'll be worthy opponents to anybody CC 606: Have your say

He said: "We all need to improve as a team and individually. We need to pass the ball more quickly.

"I am confident the further we go in the tournament the better we will play. The idea is to improve as the tournament goes on."

And Gerrard dismissed criticisms that he and Lampard have not been gelling well in central midfield.

"I am pretty pleased with the way the first two games have gone as concerns me and Frank," he said.