Friday 20 May 2016 14:58, UK
Terry Venables hopes the class of 2016 can go one better than his heroes of 20 years ago and offer the country another 'summer of a lifetime'.
The former Tottenham and Barcelona boss was in charge of England when they lost to Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 96 at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate's penalty heartache ended the country's interest in the tournament which the Germans, who converted all six spot kicks in the shootout, won with a 2-1 extra-time victory over the Czech Republic.
Venables, who left his post with the national team to take up a similar role with Australia later that year, was speaking at the Three Lions pub in London launching Carlsberg's 'Pubstitutions' campaign.
Despite the manner of their exit, Venables believes his side lifted the mood of the country for the duration of the event and a bond was formed between a group of players and staff which remains rock solid to this day.
"Everybody loved it," he said. "Even 20 years on people stop me in the street to talk about it and I still keep in touch with most of the people involved.," added Venables, who was capped twice by his country.
And the former Chelsea, Spurs and QPR midfielder admits he didn't have to think too long and hard about the highlight of the tournament which went so close to ending '30 years of hurt' for England's heartbroken followers.
"That would have to be the goal from the 'Magnificent Gascoigne', he said, reflecting on the iconic moment from the championships when the Rangers midfielder left Blackburn's Colin Hendry in knots before slotting beyond Ibrox team-mate Andy Goram for the opening goal of the 2-0 victory over Scotland.
"The entire game was special. It was a wonderful team goal and a wonderful individual goal from Gazza," he added.
And Venables believes England have to be considered as real contenders in France this summer insisting Roy Hodgson 'has what it takes' to finally deliver on the international stage.
"I know Roy very well," he added. "He is his own man, he's experienced and I'm sure he is going to get the very best out of a squad which has so many outstanding players."
Terry Venables met England fans at the Three Lions pub in London as part of Carlsberg's 'Pubstitutions' campaign. Carlsberg will be substituting pub names and renaming them 'The Three Lions' across England in the build-up to UEFA EURO 2016™.
