Different paths: England's last five build-ups

1992 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Graham Taylor suffered a blow when John Barnes and Gary Stevens were injured in the final warm-up victory over Finland. Mark Wright was then injured and, come the tournament, the sweeper system was dropped and Keith Curle, a defender, pressed into service at right-back. It was not a success.

1996 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Terry Venables gave Phil Neville, who did make the final squad, and Ugo Ehiogu, who did not, international debuts in his final warm-up, a 3-0 win in China. That game was notable for Nick Barmby's emergence. Venables subsequently omitted Peter Beardsley from the squad but Barmby was only a peripheral figure at Euro '96.

1998 WORLD CUP

Glenn Hoddle fielded Phil Neville, Paul Gascoigne and, as a substitute, Dion Dublin in the final warm-up, a goalless draw with Belgium in Casablanca, then sent all three home from the La Manga training camp. He was also without Ian Wright, Andy Hinchcliffe and Jamie Redknapp, who were injured. He then made nine changes in personnel and changed from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 for the tournament opener, a win over Tunisia.

2000 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kevin Keegan gave Richard Wright what proved a shaky debut in goal as England beat Malta 2-1. Five changes were made for the tournament opener, a defeat to Portugal. In the preceding warm-up, a 0-0 draw with Ukraine, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry had made debuts.

2002 WORLD CUP

Sven Goran Eriksson played Wes Brown and Joe Cole in a young team (average age 22) which drew the final warm-up with Cameroon in Kobe. There were four changes when he named his line-up to start the World Cup against Sweden.