Practice makes perfect for England

Gareth Southgate's miss put England out of Euro 96

Unlike his predecessor, England manager Kevin Keegan will ask his players to practise penalties for possible shoot-outs in Euro 2000 matches.

Speaking at the last press conference before England leave their Bisham Abbey training camp for their Belgian base at Spa, Keegan said his players would practise penalties although he thought it was impossible to "replicate the atmosphere" of a shoot-out.

Keegan's forerunner as England manager, Glen Hoddle, infamously decided not to practise penalties prior to the 1998 World Cup, and England duly went out on spot-kicks to Argentina.

Keegan denied he had ever said he would not prepare for a penalty shoot-out, but said there was no point in concentrating on penalties until the knockout stages.

Keegan: We'll be ready

"Once we've got past the first round there's nothing so sure as at least one or two teams will need penalties to go through, because that's what past tournaments tell you," Keegan said.

"We'll be practising them."

Keegan also confirmed he had spoken to home secretary Jack Straw about the risk of hooliganism at Euro 2000 from a minority of England's travelling support.

"We don't want to be associated with fans who go over there to cause trouble, the players don't need the distraction," Keegan said.

"We can't be held responsible for any trouble, but it won't be helpful to the players.

"We want to show the best side of English football. There's a lot at stake, particularly the World Cup bid."