91热爆

It was just after Euro 96 and it was new manager Glenn Hoddle's first game in charge. England, by the sound of things, convincingly thrashed the Moldavians 3-0 and our World Cup expedition to France 98 was well and truly under way. Being 鈥榦n point鈥� at the Carlton Tower hotel is not the place you want to be unless you fancy a 鈥榣egal鈥� to Edgware road, but out of the darkness of the hotel porch, a short stocky gent beckoned me in. It was 鈥楨l Tel鈥� Terry Venables. 鈥淏rook Green please鈥� he said, and before you could say 鈥楤arcelona鈥� we were off up Sloane Street.

鈥淲hat did you think of the game Tel? Did you see it, did we play well?鈥� I asked waiting for an expert analysis of the game. 鈥� Well I wasn鈥檛 expecting anything else really as it is basically my team that almost won Euro 96鈥� he ruefully replied. 鈥� I wish you could of sorted out all your off pitch problems because you had all English football fans behind you鈥� I told him, 鈥淚 wanted to stay on as manager but look, all I wanted from the F.A. was a longer contract and financial security. What makes me smile is the fact that the money that I was asking for, the F.A. had given to Hoddle without any questions,鈥� Venners went on 鈥� I鈥檓 just like you, bills to pay, mortgage etc and all I wanted was some backing.鈥�

Euro 96

I felt genuinely sorry for Terry, as I believe he was on the verge of producing a football force the world would fear. In that epic Euro 96 competition when we absolutely mullered the Dutch 4-1, I mean, have you ever witnessed a better performance since? (that includes our 5-1 thumping of the Germans recently), Paul Gascoigne's outrageous flick over Colin Hendrie's head before volleying home the winner against Scotland and then celebrating 鈥榙entist chair鈥� style.

We arrived at Brook Green and as he paid me off I thanked him for giving me some great football memories that I will always cherish. 鈥� Well it beats a 鈥榣egal鈥� to Edgware Rd Tel,鈥� I shouted as I pulled away. Terry looked a bit puzzled but you know what I mean don鈥檛 you!