Four players - David Seaman, Gary Neville, Nick Barmby and Steve McManaman - were privileged to play in both games and for Barmby the memories will never fade.

"I can remember those matches like yesterday," says the 30-year-old forward whose career is back on track after injuries with his home town club Hull City.

"The atmosphere against Holland at Euro 96 was amazing. Terry Venables was a huge admirer of the Dutch style and in the two years leading up to the competition, Ajax were a dominant force in Europe.

"I came on as a substitute and I remember one of their players Danny Blind saying at the end they couldn’t cope with our system. He said we had played the Holland way against Holland.

"Teddy Sheringham scored twice that night and I was delighted for him. I played with Teddy at Spurs and in my eyes he’s always been underestimated for what he brings to a team.

"People regard Eric Cantona and Dennis Bergkamp as legends and I would put Teddy right up there with them as players."

Barmby had gone to Liverpool via Middlesbrough and Everton when England went to Munich in 2001.

"I was asked to play on the left-hand side but I cut inside to head down for Michael Owen to score our first goal.I thought the goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was going to clatter me to be honest but thankfully he didn’t and Michael scored.

"It was a surreal moment in the dressing-room afterwards. We were buzzing but I don’t think anyone could quite believe winning 5-1. We had a match against Albania the following Wednesday and that meant there couldn’t be any mad celebrations.

"Sven told us very quickly afterwards that we would waste the win if we didn’t beat Albania."

Unfortunately for Barmby, he suffered an ankle injury soon after England booked their place for the 2002 World Cup and he never recaptured his international place.

At a club level though, he is undergoing a revival in League One with his hometown club Hull City under the management of Peter Taylor, also the England under-21 coach.

"I had met Peter from the time he managed England for the game against Italy before Sven arrived," says Barmby.

"He is extremely knowledgeable about the game and his record for getting clubs promoted is second to none.

"The pace of the Premiership players is obviously quicker but you have to be as fit at this level, teams don’t stop for 90 minutes.

"We’re going for promotion into the Championship and I think the club is ambitious to eventually push on for the Premiership.

"We’re not taking this season for granted by any means but the Premiership isn’t an impossible dream. Other clubs like Fulham have done it and the chairman will be keen to push on as far as we can.

"I’m enjoying my football which is always the most important thing. I have won 23 England caps and gone to two European Championships so I could never be bitter about my career even though I have had injuries. That happens in football."

Next week in Part II of the Nick Barmby interview, he talks about scoring the first goal of the Sven era at Villa Park, where England play Holland on Wednesday.