There was a moment shortly before Euro ’96 when a reluctant England squad were instructed to gather together after dinner in their hotel. They were under orders to listen to the new song commissioned by the FA for the tournament. The comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel had come to Burnham Beeches, in Buckinghamshire, but found the reaction to be about as positive as you might expect for, well, a Gareth Southgate penalty. Sponsored“We looked at each other and thought, ‘Another crap football song,’ ” Stuart Pearce, the former England defender, recalls. Baddiel remembers Terry Venables at least showing a flicker of enthusiasm — “A real key-tapper,” the England manager said, jangling his car keys — but there was no indication that this was going

Source: The Times June 09, 2021 16:07 UTC