Waiting game not likely to be appealing for players

Not only will the Three Lions, the former Leeds United goalkeeper believes, be glad that the final pre-tournament friendly against Belgium is out of the way, they will also be slightly frustrated at having to wait longer than most to get under way.

The opening game is not until a week today when Group D finally swings into action as Donetsk hosts England’s meeting with France and Ukraine tackle Sweden in Kiev.

“The players will just want to get started now,” said Martyn, a member of Graham Taylor’s squad at Euro 92 and then in the side that crashed out eight years later with defeat to Romania in their final group game.

“I remember from my time with England that the last friendly was always a difficult one because no matter what anyone said, the priority had to be not getting injured.

“Once that was out of the way, the focus could fully turn to the opening game and, in that respect, England not being in action until next Monday isn’t ideal.

“I am sure the current squad will be like we were in that they will watch all the games on television to see how the others teams do. At the same time, they will be desperate to show everyone what they can do – so having to wait until a few days into the tournament is not the best.”

Martyn’s first taste of a major tournament came 20 years ago as part of Taylor’s England squad in Sweden. His selection came just a month after his debut as a substitute for Chris Woods in a friendly against Russia in Moscow and was unexpected, not least because Taylor opted to take just two goalkeepers.

David Seaman was the one to miss out as England failed to get past the group stage in Sweden but for the next few years it was the Rotherham-born goalkeeper who largely kept Martyn on the bench.

By Euro 2000 in Holland and Belgium, Martyn, now at Leeds, was still waiting for his first appearance at a major finals.

When it finally arrived in the tournament that was the first to be jointly hosted by two nations, it came in unusual circumstances courtesy of Seaman breaking down in the warm-up ahead of England’s final group game.

The 45-year-old recalls: “We were both out on the pitch when Dave suddenly said his calf was sore and that he was going in. I continued my warm-up but my mind was racing.

“I still fully expected Dave to play but then as I finished the warm-up, Ray Clemence came rushing over and said, ‘You’re playing’. After that, it was a real rush to get ready.

“I got back in the dressing room and there were only a couple of minutes until we were due to go back out. I had to change my kit, get my gloves and shinpads on.

“Ray was a bit panicky because time was short but I managed it, even if it was probably the worst preparation for such a big game. I remember being stood there during the national anthem and sweat was pouring off me.”

England went into the Romania game on the back of defeat to Portugal in their opening fixture and a 1-0 victory over Germany. A draw, therefore, would have been enough for Kevin Keegan’s side to progress.

“The game was a farce from a goalkeeping perspective,” says Martyn to the Yorkshire Post about the night of June 20 in Charleroi. “I started off okay, made some good saves and felt good.

“But then one of their players (Cristian Chivu) was running down the wing and hit a cross that if he’d tried it another 100 times would not have happened as it did. From the byline, it looped over me and into the far corner. A completely freak goal in a huge game.

“Going behind was a setback but we hit back (through Alan Shearer) and Michael Owen put us 2-1 up. Everything was hunky dory but then we conceded an equaliser.

“I was going to catch a cross when Martin Keown suddenly shouted, ‘Away!’ I presumed he meant I was about to get clattered and should punch the ball clear. Unfortunately, the punch when straight to a Romanian (Dorinel Munteanu) and he finished really well.

“Then, near the end Phil Neville gave away a penalty and that was that. Going out of a big tournament is the worst feeling, it really is. Horrible, in fact.

“It doesn’t feel real, probably because no-one ever believes we are going to go out. Even against Brazil in the 2002 World Cup, I hadn’t even thought about packing my bags before the quarter-final.

“In 1998, we went home the day after losing to Argentina and, again, that was really weird. You spend all that time together and then, suddenly, you’re heading off in different directions.

“On a personal level, Euro 2000 was really bad as that could have been my big chance. I didn’t know how serious Dave’s calf strain was but there would have been a chance that I could have stayed in the team.

“And if I’d played in the quarter-final, then I would have been a lot better prepared and settled. Who knows what could have happened?”

The defeat to Romania turned out to be Martyn’s only appearance in a major finals despite being part of four squads, stretching from 1992 to 2002.

With all four of those tournaments having taken place abroad, he often missed out on the excitement that England taking part in a World Cup or European Championship can generate back home. One manager, however, who did manage to get across just how important the fortunes of the national team were to the national mood was Keegan.

Martyn said: “Before Euro 2000, Kevin was quite keen us to get a feel for what people at home were doing and how they were feeling.

“He got someone to put together footage of fans in pubs and clubs, celebrating either England goals going in or a big win. The camera was looking at the fans and not the screen to capture them jumping around. Kevin wanted us to see what England doing well meant to people.

“It was a good idea, as when at a tournament we were all in a bubble. You got up, had something to eat, went training, had lunch, maybe had a team meeting and then ate again. The only contact with the outside world would be ringing home, when (my wife) Amanda would tell me what was happening and what the kids were up to.

“I am sure a few managers have done that since but it was the first time I’d come across it. I found it really useful, as I think did the other lads.”

As for Euro 2012 and England’s prospects, the former goalkeeper with 23 caps added: “We are not in the top two or three favourites but that doesn’t mean we can’t do well.

“Roy is a decent football guy. I never played for him or anything like that but have watched his teams over the years and also been on nodding terms. I think he will do a good job.

“Changing manager so late is not ideal but, in a funny way, it could work in England’s favour. The pressure is off as there is no real air of expectation.

“That may change once the matches begin but, at the moment, things being low key mean England can, hopefully, concentrate on their own game.”

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