Football / World Cup: Self-control earns Taylor's praise

GRAHAM TAYLOR praised his players for their restraint amid trying conditions on and off the pitch yesterday. 'They showed great self-control and are a credit to themselves and their profession,' Taylor said.

'You know it's going to be a game of free-kicks, a stop-start situation and you're liable to get frustrated about many things. You've got to show your maturity and that you can handle these sort of situations.

'We did not get kidded into anything. You've got to learn, if you have claims to be an international footballer, that nothing must knock you out of your stride.'

Taylor was impressed with the performance of John Barnes. He said: 'You saw a gifted player producing a very good team performance, fitting into positions, picking up people and also supplying the free-kick from which David Platt scored. But there were some very good solid performances all round.'

Several England players and officials were struck by missiles. The FA's commercial manager Trevor Phillips said: 'We got plastered by water bombs and cups of coffee. At one point I saw a firecracker coming my way and ducked; it hit the Turkish sports minister sitting in front of me. Everyone was a target.'

However, the FA chairman Bert Millichip said he would not lodge an official complaint. 'We will leave that to the official Fifa observer,' he said.