Gareth Southgate revealed how big an impact his Euro 96 manager Terry Venables had on his career as England prepare to face Scotland on Friday.
Southgate played in that famous game 15 years ago where the Three Lions won 2-0 to spark their European Championship campaign to life and set them on the way to a run to the semi-finals.
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Now Southgate will be in the dugout and draw on all his knowledge he collected as a player and now manager as he looks to guide England to a victory over Scotland which would book them a last 16 place.
When asked about Venables, Southgate said: “I think he was always looking at the setup of the team, the setup of the opposition and making sure we were tactically prepared.
“We try to prepare the team, as a coaching stuff, in a similar fashion. We could get wrapped up in the occasion and overplay that but we don’t think that’s the best state to go in the game.
“We don’t want to be undercooked because the energy and the extra incentive for teams in games like this is obvious, but we have to make sure we get the balance right.”
When asked if he’s spoken to his old manager recently, Southgate said: “We haven’t, but he’s always been supportive and a coach I learned a huge amount from as a player and certainly took a lot from as a coach.
“Not only from at the time, but conversations I’ve had with him over the years when I’ve been in his company. He’s an outstanding football person.”
Stories of that Euro 96 showdown with Scotland – when Paul Gascoigne scored that memorable volley – are told and retold.
But Southgate feels the match itself is irrelevant to the current crop.
“For this team, those games are irrelevant. It’s nice for people involved to look back on to talk about those and events but tomorrow’s game will be totally different,” he said.
“The circumstances are unique and the flow of the game is unique.
“We have to make sure we perform to the very best level we can. We think we can get better from what we were at the weekend, that has to be our first aim.”
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The England boss confirmed that Harry Maguire may be able to take some part in the game, whether that would be to start or not he did not say.
The Three Lions won their opening group game against Croatia and know a win over Scotland will seal qualification to the knockout stages.
When asked if it is tough to change a winning team, Southgate said: “That’s the dilemma as a manager. You want to breed an environment where there’s a meritocracy in terms of selection where if a team wins, you want to keep things settled.
“That is balanced by the different opponent and tactical problems, the right team for each individual game where the players are at mentally and physically.
“They’re always difficult decisions but nicer decisions coming off the back of a win rather than a defeat.”
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Tyrone Mings could be the man to miss out if Maguire returns, with the preferred pairing likely to be the Man United man alongside John Stones.
Southgate added: “Tyrone has had a fantastic start to his international career. Every time he’s played for us, he’s produced a level of consistency that has really impressed us.
“We had little hesitation in starting him in a back four at the weekend. We are very pleased with what he’s done. He brings leadership qualities as well as his defensive ones. Like in all positions, we are going to need the squad.
“We have players coming back to fitness and we will have issues down the line, I’m sure. Every team is going to have them. Everybody has to be ready.
“The spirit of this group is outstanding.”
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