Southgate future on hold

Gareth Southgate's fateful miss at Euro 96

Gareth Southgate has put his club future on hold to concentrate on England's Euro 2000 campaign.

The England star stunned Aston Villa by handing in a transfer request on Thursday, claiming it was time to move on and tackle a fresh challenge.

But the 29-year-old centre-back is now focusing on England's opener against Portugal in Eindhoven on Monday.

He said: "I'm totally concentrating on England. The fact we've come away now means I can get my mind focused.

"It has been something I've been thinking about for a long time and I spoke to John (Gregory) about it a week ago. Everyone at Villa was aware of it.

Timing

"There was nothing premeditated about the timing of my announcement that I wanted to leave Villa. It's just the way it's worked out.

"I've had the usual banter from some of the England lads but it's done now and I really don't want to dwell on it. My mind's set on the job in hand," he added.

However, one thing Southgate is certain about is, if England's fortunes once again hinge on a penalty shoot-out this summer, he will definitely not be the fall guy.

The wantaway defender will always be remembered for missing the penalty that put England out of Euro 96, but he says he will not put himself forward if his side are once again involved in a shoot-out.

"I think we would have to go down to about 18-all before I took one with the way things stand," said Southgate.

Win

"The possibility of penalties being needed to win this competition has been discussed. The chances are that somewhere down the line it will be required because many of the teams are so evenly matched.

I know that that penalty is something that everybody will go back to and I know that it is something that I will probably always be labelled with

Gareth Southgate

"But it goes without saying that I would be well down the list. It is not something I am considering."

Southgate clearly resents the amount of attention that that one kick still gets compared with the thousands of more assured ones which have earned him his place in the England squad.

"It has gone beyond where I have a point to prove. If it came to a shoot-out the most important thing is that the team gets through. Unless it is 10-10 it is not going to happen in terms of me taking a penalty," added the Aston Villa defender.

"To be honest, I've got fed up with it now and it's ancient history. I've done plenty in my career since 1996 and I am very pleased with the season I've just had.

"But I know that that penalty is something that everybody will go back to and I know that it is something that I will probably always be labelled with."

Stuart Pearce celebrates his penalty success

So there will be no Stuart Pearce-like catharcism for Southgate. Pearce famously exorcised his demons by putting his penalty away at Euro 96 six years after missing against West Germany in Italia 90.

Perhaps Southgate might have considered taking a penalty in Euro 2000 had he not missed another deciding spot-kick for his club Aston Villa in a Worthington Cup tie against West Ham.