England squad started and ended it together

FOR ENGLAND, it ended as it started. Assuming collective responsibility following an excessive bout of drinking before the tournament began, they regrouped for a wake and maintained the we're in this together philosophy which grew with each passing day.

The media and public fall out from the Cathay Pacific affair ultimately helped to unify them in a way the even Terry Venables's words couldn't have done. The English coach's success was in harnessing that mood and developing a fit, focused and tactically fluid English side.

His judgment proved sound on a number of issues. Though the conversion to a three man defence came late in England's preparatory friendlies (Christmas trees becoming totally out of season), the players proved eminently adaptable, ironically not least thanks to the perceptiveness of one of their finds of the tournament, Gareth Southgate.

The same can be said of Gary Neville and if the imperious Dieter Eilts was Man of the Match on Wednesday, then the colossus that was Tony Adams cannot have been far behind. No more talk of donkeys there.

Paul Ince, still spends much of his time snarling but not nearly so much of it on the ground, Serie A having matured his game immeasurably. Paul Gascoigne was another who conserved his energies, made more judicious use of his sorties forward and curbed different excesses to bed his talents into the team framework. His passing and link play was outstanding, as was his stamina. Here Venables was thoroughly vindicated.

No one ran at opposing defenders with more gusto and more thrilling effect than Steve McManaman, and Darren Anderton had his best game of the tournament against Germany. The crowning glory was the 4-1 destruction of Holland, and particularly when the three goal salvo in 11 minutes when the level of finishing, disappointing generally, reached a peak. With regard to Alan Shearer again, Venables was thoroughly vindicated.

It was also the most settled team in the competition. They grew stronger and stronger, and by the end, were unlucky not to go all the way.

Right up to and beyond the bitter end there would still be no scapegoats, certainly not Southgate. In a crestfallen post match dressing room, Venables revealed yesterday that he offered all the players the opportunity to return to their homes.

All declined, understandably, for not even loved ones can fully comprehend the hollowness following such a crushing sporting defeat, especially a penalty shoot out in a European Championship semi final. They found consolation in the only people who could understand, each other, and had a good old knees up back at their hotel. Nobody was taking pictures or criticising them this time.

Yesterday's farewell at Bisham Abbey made for some poignant sights, all the more so as it was Venables's last day at the office. Alan Shearer, the first to depart, was hugged by Steve McManaman. They will be Blackburn and Liverpool enemies again come August but the bond within the squad has become discernibly stronger.

There has already been some resentment. The scum of English society, adequately fostered by a gutter press, rose to the surface of London's streets on Wednesday night. (Our own media bus was stoned leaving Wembley by England louts presuming us all to be "German Press". Thankfully, Just as well they didn't know the full score and not for the first time I was glad we hadn't qualified).

It should never be accepted as part and parcel of a tournament, even in England's generally calmer climes, but the danger to innocent people which the scum and the gutter press engender must seriously undermine any bid by the English FA for the 2,006 World Cup finals.

"We enjoyed winning together and we have to take losing together, everybody," said Venables, though it's a pity he didn't extend that to public condemnation of the aforementioned scum. Venables articulately contributed to the respect afforded the Germans inside Wembley, but there's an onus on English managers and players to say more.

Hopefully, trouble has passed with England's departure, and what local resentment there is may now be directed toward the FA's men in suits whose less than wholehearted backing for Venables prompted his decision to concentrate his energies on forthcoming legal battles.

Shearer scarcely concealed his own anger about Venables's partially enforced departure, and by extension that of his fellow players. "Personally, and I think I am speaking on behalf of everybody, I believe it is a crying shame that Terry Venables has been allowed to leave. He is second to none with his knowledge of football and tactics. I am sure he has got his reasons for leaving and the FA have theirs."

As is often the case, Venables was at his most relaxed in the wake of defeat, mixing freely with members of the media in the temporary tent before giving his final press conference.

He will not be making Glenn Hoddle's life a misery by taking up the post of Technical Director at the FA. "I'm looking forward to having a holiday now, but I've had quite a few very interesting offers, for national coaching jobs and also club jobs, big clubs, but I've just said I'm not doing anything for the moment."

Posterity will be kind to his two and a half year reign now, encompassing just one defeat (to Brazil) in 23 games, even if all but five were friendlies and ala but two of them were at Wembley. Though away games are the acid test and the qualifying road, which begins in Moldova ten weeks from now, is traditionally stickier ground for English teams, it makes you wonder what Venables might have achieved in another two, four or six years. This, in many ways despite rather than because of a helter skelter Premiership.

"A lot has been said about whether our players are good enough. At the top end they are. They have become men for all seasons. Yes, if it's a battle we can handle that and we want to win it. If it's a football match we can be as intelligent as you, pull you out, get people in and make chances at the very highest level.

"There is the dilemma of Premier League or international and European football - that has to be seen clearly. If we do, that's a great step forward. We've two tiers of players - a senior squad and a younger group of players coming through and it's going to hold them in great stead - Barmby Redknapp, Fowler, Campbell, the Neville boys - the experience they have gained."

. German Football Federation president Egidius Braun yesterday called for the rules on yellow cards to be changed at major tournaments. As Germany struggled to assemble a team for Sunday's Euro 96 final, Braun said: I intend to put forward a proposal that the yellow cards picked up by players in the group stage should be dropped for the knockout stages.

"(Andreas) Moeller got a yellow card in the first match for pulling his opponent by the shoulder. That is treated in the same way as a bad foul."

After the dramatic semi final win over England, Germany coach Berti Vogts awoke with a huge headache about his line up for the clash with the Czech Republic. He may have just 14 players available for selection because of suspension and injury.