The Italians had been in devastating form in their final group match, completing a 7-0 demolition of Serbia. As well as their defensive quality, they had a formidable forward pairing in Toni and Gilardino, who would require special attention from Ferdinand and Terry. The match may well hinge on the midfield battle between Gerrard and Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo, but with Pirlo playing in a deeper role, Gerrard should have more freedom to show his class in the attacking third.

Before the game, I spoke to my players about how English teams had fallen at this hurdle so many times before and it would be heartbreaking for this to happen again. I told them to go out and fight for every last ball, not give the Italians an inch and make their country proud.

As my players walked out onto the field, the tension amongst both sets of supporters was palpable. Know one could separate these two teams on paper, it would be a matter of who wanted it more.

My team started strongly and got in the Italians faces from the very first whistle. The Italians did not like this type of blood and thunder approach and quickly fell onto the back foot. In the third minute, Bonera hoisted the ball high into the stand, under pressure from Lennon. Richards took the throw and threw it into the feet of Owen. Unable to turn Cannavaro, he played the ball back to Richards, Richards hit a looping first time ball into the area. Jerome managed to get to the ball in front of Chiellini and from six yards out, directed a bullet header into the goal, giving Buffon no chance. We were 1-0 up and Jerome had done it again, the stadium erupted with noise as we had made the perfect start.

Italy were not going to take this lying down and quickly changed from a 4-5-1, to a 4-4-2 formation. They came close to making a quick reply, but De Rossi’s header was straight at Robinson.

For the next fifteen minutes the game settled down and both teams began to pass the ball about more comfortably. However, with twenty-five minutes on the clock, Gerrard picked the ball up on the edge of the centre circle. The Liverpool man skipped past Pirlo and played the ball out wide to Young. Young drove past Oddo, to the by-line and then pulled the ball back to the unmarked Owen, on the edge of the box. Owen fired a first time effort that was past Buffon in a flash, the ball nestled high in the top left hand corner, giving us a 2-0 lead! It was an awesome team move, that had sent the England fans wild with jubilation.

With the Prater-Stadion rocking to the tune of ‘Rule Britannia’, my side continued to set the pace. In the thirty-fifth minute we had a big claim for a penalty turned down, as Cannavaro looked to have tripped Young when he was through on goal. However, we weren’t to be denied six minutes later. After Cannavaro had sent the ball behind for a corner, Gerrard’s in swinging delivery was met by the head of Ferdinand. The Manchester United defender shrugged off Bonera to steer his header past the outstretched arm of Buffon, to send us into a commanding 3-0 lead.

As the half time whistle went, there was a huge cheer from the travelling England supporters, who had seen their team dismantle the Italians in the first half.

I sat my players down in the dressing room and told them that was the best half of football I had ever seen, we had picked the Italians apart with ease. However, we would have to be on our guard, they were sure to be on the receiving end of a few choice words from their manager Roberto Donadoni and would come out and fight in the second half. It was important that we kept things tight at the back and didn’t allow them to get any momentum going.

We escaped the expected early onslaught from the Italians without any major causes for alarm. Gerrard was an immense presence for us in front of the back four and was playing a major role in limiting the Italians to long shots.

As the half progressed the Italians became more and more desperate, but were running into a brick wall each time they came into our attacking third. It was a professional second half showing from my boys, who were soaking up the Italian’s pressure and looking dangerous on the counter attack. This almost paid dividends in the seventy-seventh minute. After Gilardino was dispossessed by Gerrard on the edge of the area, he played a quick ball forward to Rooney. Rooney ran at the Italian back four, before unleashing a powerful shot that missed the target by inches.

The Italians were running out of ideas, they changed to a 4-3-3 formation and brought on Del Piero and Totti for the final ten minutes to try and salvage something from the game. However, it proved to be too little too late, my players jumped for joy as the referee blew the final whistle.

The fans were ecstatic, having seen their side overcome the hoodoo that had seen them fall at the quarter final stage of the last three major competitions. My side sportingly took time to commiserate with the Italian players, but then came together in the middle of the pitch to celebrate with each other.

It had been a clinical performance from my team and would see us play the Czech Republic in our first semi final since 1996.

25.6.08 - England vs. Czech Republic, St. Jakob-Park - European Championship Semi Final
The Czech’s had proved to be the surprise package of the tournament. Having sneaked through the group stage on goal difference, they had gone on to complete a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Spain in the quarter finals. On their day, they were clearly a dangerous team, but I was confident that my players would rise to the occasion and book our place in the finals.

The only change to the line up is an enforced one, Ashley Cole picked up his second yellow card of the competition against the Italians and would be unavailable for this match. As a result, I have called upon Owen Hargreaves to fill in at left back. The Manchester United midfielder is unfamiliar in this position, but possesses all the right qualities to do well in his new role. It is a calculated gamble, one that I prey wont backfire.

The Czech’s had a couple of players who we would have to be weary of. They prefer to play a 4-5-1 formation with Milan Baros as the lone striker, I feel confident that Ferdinand and Terry should be able to deal with this threat. We would also have to keep a close eye on Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky, the talismanic midfielder is the heartbeat of the Czech team, nullifying the threat that he provides could be the key to victory.

I told my team not to underestimate the Czech’s, they were at this stage of the competition on merit and would need to be shown respect. However, it was important that we got in their faces from the off and played our normal attacking game. If we could dictate the early pace, it would give us a good platform to gain the victory.

We stepped out into the St. Jakob-Park arena and were greeted by a partisan English crowd, who were in full voice and willing the team to make it to the final.

My side get off to a nervy start, in the third minute there was confusion in the defence, as Robinson passes the ball to Hargreaves. Hargreaves dwells on the ball for too long and is dispossessed by Baros, with Robinson off his line, the Czech striker lobs the ball goal wards, but luckily it is too high and sails over the crossbar. Robinson gives Hargreaves a barracking for his error but we had survived an early scare.

We were not playing at our best and the Czech’s were getting on top. However, our first real chance of the game came in the thirteenth minute. A shot from Rooney had deflected off Ujfalusi and gone out for a corner. Ashley Cole went over to take the corner in front of the England fans. He swung in a low cross to the front post, the ball was met by the head of Gerrard, who’s glancing header caught Cech flat footed and the ball sailed into the top left hand corner of the net, 1-0. The England fans went wild as Gerrard wheeled away, arms aloft, to celebrate with Cole.

Although the goal was against the run of play, it seemed to spur my team on and we were beginning to gain control of the game. In the nineteenth minute, Terry dispossessed Jarolim on the edge of our penalty area. With the Czech’s committing players forward, Terry’s lofted through ball found Lennon on the halfway line. He skipped past Rozenhal and then ran the entire length of the Czech half, one on one with Cech, he waited for the ‘keeper to commit himself before dinking the ball over his head. He was off celebrating before the ball had even reached the back of the net, running towards the bench, he was mobbed by the substitutes and coaching staff.

The Czech’s seemed shell shocked, they had controlled the early part of the game, yet now found themselves 2-0 down. We had regained our poise and were starting to play some excellent football again. We nearly added to our lead on thirty-two minutes, a through ball from Lennon landed at the feet of Rooney. However, the forwards shot was well saved by Cech.

Still we came forward, the Czech’s were on the ropes and desperate for half time to come so they could regroup. Our wingers were running riot against their slow back line and on forty-two minutes they again fell foul of a long ball over the top. This time it was from Gerrard to Young, the Aston Villa winger was able to run into the Czech penalty area unopposed. With Cech left exposed again, he rifled his shot into the top right hand corner of the net, giving us a 3-0 lead, as the England fans chanted ‘Easy, Easy’.

The players were cheered off the pitch at half time. After an unconvincing start, my team had played their way into this semi final and dominated the latter stages of the first half. The Czech’s looked bewildered as they walked off at half time, not quite believing what had happened to them.

My players were in buoyant mood at half time, I made a point of congratulating Hargreaves for recovering from his early mistake to put in a solid performance. I told the players that if they played the same way in the second half, then the Czech’s would have no answer and we would run out comfortable winners. If we could keep it tight at the back for the first fifteen minutes of the half, then I would be afforded the luxury of resting some players ahead of the final.

The first ten minutes of the half went by with out any alarms. My team looked comfortable in possession and the Czech’s looked like they had run out of ideas. A stray pass from Galasek - in the sixtieth minute - presented the ball to Rooney, he ran at the heart of the Czech defence and with the fans beckoning him to shoot, he played a clever reverse pass to the unmarked Owen. With only Cech to beat, the Newcastle man hit his shot low and hard across the ‘keeper, the ball clipped the inside of the post as it went in, giving us an unassailable 4-0 lead.

Straight after, the fans rose to their feet to salute the contributions of Rooney and Jerome, as they made way for Joe Cole and Darren Bent.

The fans were in party mood as my team continued to dominate the game as it reached it’s climax. Despite efforts from Baros and Rosicky, there was to be no consolation goal for the Czech’s.

As the referee blew the final whistle, I ran onto the pitch to celebrate with my players. I ushered them over to salute the travelling army of England supporters who had made it such a special occasion, with their noise and chanting throughout the ninety minutes.

As fate would have it, we will play Germany in the final. They had just defeated the Netherlands in what is being heralded as one of the greatest matches ever to take place at a major finals, with the score finishing 5-3.

28.6.08
In the days leading up to the final we have had hundreds of messages of support from the people back home. My team has captured the publics imagination like no other England team before them. We have even had a letter of support from the Queen, who says she will be tuning in to watch the match tomorrow and hopes we can bring the trophy home.

29.6.08 - England vs. Germany, Prater-Stadion - European Championship Final
And so the stage was set. One of the great rivalries in European football being played out on one of the grandest stages of them all. The streets surrounding the Prater-Stadion were packed hours before kick off, the sense of anticipation was huge as the fans mingled in the bars.

The English fans were supremely confident, we had won all of our five game so far in the tournament without conceding a goal. As the television reporters went round the fans asking them for predictions, they were met with ‘three, nil’ and ‘four, nil’. They clearly thought that an England victory was a certainty, but unbeknownst to them, there had been some last minute problems in the England camp.

Both Rooney and Jerome had not fully recovered from their exertions in the previous match and were not completely match fit.

It was a major selection headache at the eleventh hour and I would have to consult with my medical team before making a decision.

I had to break the heartbreaking news to Jerome that he would not be starting the match. The youngster was distraught when he found out that Darren Bent would be taking his place. However, I explained that I simply couldn’t jeopardise our chances of winning the trophy by selecting someone who wasn’t fully fit. The only other change to the line up, saw Ashley Cole return from suspension to reclaim the left back spot. I have decided to take a risk and include Rooney in the team, his determination to be part of this occasion has convinced me that he will be able to see the game through.

Although we had already beaten the Germans once in the competition, this would count for nothing today. It would all come down to which set of players handled the pressure best.

Before the game, I gathered my players together and told them that this was the day that they could become legends. If we beat the Germans, we would go down in history as the first English side to win the European Championships. I told them if they couldn’t get themselves up for this match, then they shouldn’t be playing football.

And with those words, my players took to the field at the packed Prater-Stadion. The fans were in full voice as they sang their hearts out during the national anthem, all they needed now was for the team to respond on the pitch.

We got at the Germans form the very first kick, with Rooney dispossessing Schneider, he ran at the German defence before having his shot well saved by Butt. It brought the fans to their feet though, as the atmosphere reached fever pitch.

We continued to dominate the opening exchanges, with shots from Lennon and Rooney both testing the German goalkeeper. We had Germany penned in their own half and it seemed like only a matter of time before we made the breakthrough.

However, disaster struck in the seventeenth minute. Ashley Cole played the ball back to Robinson after being unable to pick out any players further up field. The Tottenham ‘keeper was hesitant on the ball and when he finally did try and get rid of it, his kick was charged down by Miroslav Klose, who reacted quickest and smashed the ball into the empty net. The German fans were jubilant as their team celebrated on the pitch and now my players would need to fight back.

There was an almost immediate response, four minutes later and Lennon broke free down the wing. He evaded the challenge of Lahm before curling in a low cross, the ball was met by Bent, but his powerful shot was well saved by Butt.

As we went searching for the equaliser, we were nearly hit on the break. Only a smart save from Robinson stopped Klose getting his second goal. It was end to end stuff, but the Germans were still in the lead.

As the half progressed, Germany began to take charge and they were rewarded for this in the thirty-second minute. A cross from Lahm on the left was met by the head of Klose. The striker had peeled away from his marker - Ferdinand - and powered his header into the back of the net. The England fans had their heads in their hands as the second goal went in and they could feel the dream slipping away.

I needed to address my teams problems and I needed to do it right away. Starting with Rooney had clearly been a mistake - he wasn’t fit - so straight after the second goal, he was substituted, with Joe Cole taking his place. Rooney was furious with being taken off so early in the game and stormed off down the tunnel without even looking at me.

With our defence at sixes and sevens, things got worse. Straight from the kick off, Young was dispossessed by Frings, the midfielder played the ball forward to Kuranyi. On the edge of the box, the striker fired a low ball across the face of goal and it was diverted into the back of the net by Schneider to make the score 3-0. Their were tears from the England fans as the goal went in, the Germans were running riot and my team didn’t seem to have an answer.

It was turning into a nightmare. On the stroke of half time, another fluffed clearance from Robinson presented the ball to Freier. The German winger gladly accepted the invitation, clinically stroking the ball into the right hand corner of the net to make the score 4-0 to the Germans!

As the half time whistle went, I stood shell shocked on the touchline. After producing such convincing displays all tournament, my team had capitulated at the most important time. It was going to be an impossible task to overturn this deficit.

I let rip at my players in the dressing room. They were being humiliated in the most important game of their lives by their biggest rivals. I told them to show some pride in themselves and if they couldn’t overturn the score line, the least they could do was give the fans something to cheer about.

I gave it one last throw of the dice; replacing Owen and Bent with Jerome and Agbonlahor, hoping against hope that we could get something out of the game.

My words had obviously struck a chord with the players, and they started the second half like a team possessed. Within four minutes of the restart, Ashley Young was at his best, making a mazy run down the touchline, he jinked past Freier and then Friedrich. He then delivered an inch perfect ball on to the head of Jerome. Jerome’s powerful header whizzed past Butt and it was 4-1. Jerome collected the ball out of the net and carried it back to the halfway line, believing that the comeback was on.

As the clock ticked towards sixty minutes, I knew we had to go for it, I told my players to press forward in search of more goals, leaving us vulnerable at the back. The Germans were defending for their lives, but they kept repelling our attacks, as the clock ticked down, our chances of a comeback were getting more and more remote.

With five minutes left, my team were caught on the counter attack. Butt quickly dispatched the ball to Frings after saving an Agbonlahor shot. Frings played a long ball over the top to Fahrenhorst, who rounded Robinson to make the score 5-1. It compounded what was one of the worst days in English football history. We had been caught out at the last by a counter attacking move which had been the hallmark of our own success over the previous months. Not only that, we had let our nation down and allowed the Germans to finally get their revenge for the 5-1 defeat they had suffered against us in 2001.

As the final whistle went, Joachim Low and his backroom staff ran onto the pitch to celebrate with his players. My team trudged over to the centre circle. I had no words to console my heartbroken players with, we had underperformed when we needed to produce the most and had been made to pay for it by a clinical German team.

As Michael Ballack hoisted the European trophy over his head, tears welled up in my eyes at the thought of what might have been. My team had been on one hell of a journey over the past year, but it would take some time before we could get over such a devastating defeat.