The golden rule is team spirit... not star names

TWENTY years on and we are still talking about the Golden Generation.

- ANALYSIS BY JOHN CROSS

England's richest vein of talent for generations with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney failed to deliver at Euro 2004 or the 2006 World Cup.

Gerrard called that team "egotistical losers" this week because of the club divide between players from Liverpool and Manchester United while the big names never lived up to their hype.

Rooney backed up Gerrard and insisted the current generation get on better these days - citing Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford working harmoniously - and they have better relationships with the media.

And yet still Thomas Tuchel's decision to leave out Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish has come under scrutiny. Cole Palmer was not available.