Gareth Southgate has known the ups and downs as an England player – and not only during that fateful Wembley semi-final of 1996.

Now a man who worked closely with him in the England set-up has explained how those experiences have stood him in good stead to support his players.

And why success in the Euro 2020 final would be fabulous reward for the work of so many in recent months and years.

Southgate is in charge of the England team who take on an excellent Italy side.

The fact he has led England to the final of a competition in which he suffered heartbreak himself as a player is being seen as some sort of redemption.

But Albion deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber looks back to Southgate’s reaction to another disappointment, during the 2002 World Cup in the Far East, as another factor which has built the man we now see inspiring a nation.

Those experiences might also underline why he has such empathy for Ben White now as the Albion defender works hard as part of the England 26 without making the matchday 23.

Barber was one of the executives with the England party in 2002 during what turned into a seven-week trip, including pre-tournament camp and friendlies.

He told The Argus: “Unfortunately for Gareth, he didn’t really kick a ball in that tournament, so he spent a lot of time sitting with me, drinking coffee, which allowed us to get to know each other.

“But we stayed in contact over the years so I’m just so thrilled for him.

“He was always, for me, an incredible leader.

“The reason I say that was because I’ve been around tournaments when players haven’t been picked and they haven’t played and they can be difficult.

“They can be challenging to be around because, understandably, players want to play.

“When you go to a major tournament, it is the pinnacle of your career and you want to be involved.

“What struck me back in 2002 was that, although Gareth had played previously in major tournaments and had been a big part in Euro ‘96, he had the maturity and the calmness and the professionalism and the devotion to being part of the national squad and understanding that, if you’re not picked, you still have a part to play.

“You have still got to train hard, you still got to stay positive.

“You have still got to stay focused. You have still got to support the other players.

“You’ve also got to help young players. You’ve got to impart your experience.

“You’ve got to show that you can deal with the disappointment of not being selected.

“All of those things, Gareth displayed in spades in Japan and Korea.

“At the time, I remember thinking, ‘You know, not only is this a type of captaincy material - because by then he had captained England and his clubs, he was already a leader - but it was also the sort of behaviour that would one day be fantastic attributes as a manager or a head coach.

“If you’ve been there and you’ve done it and you’ve experienced the highs and the lows, if you’ve been selected and not selected, if you’ve been starting and then on the bench and then not in the squad at all, then you can look any player in the eye.

“Ultimately you become a manager or a national coach and say, ‘Look, I know you’re disappointed. I was disappointed or I know that you’re feeling a little bit down about being left out right now. But I know what it’s like and what you’ve got to do is this, this and this’.

“I think the fact that he’s had that experience and managed that disappointment so well has to have been an asset.

“I think the other thing as well that always stood out for me with Gareth was he’s a great communicator.

“You could sit down with Gareth, as I said, and have a coffee or tea and you could hear not just about football, but about anything.

“He was open. He was honest. He was refreshing.

“He was keen to understand your point of view, know more about you.

“So he’s a good listener.

“I think every time you see him interviewed on the TV as England coach, it is exactly the same Gareth Southgate I sat down with 20 years ago.

“The same grounded, decent human being that I think everyone has grown to love as his profile has increased.

“Not one of those people where it’s all about him.”

Barber would love to see the happy ending at Wembley but, whatever happens, he believes recent weeks have done wonders for the country and bode well with a World Cup coming next year.

He said: “It’s just great to see our country for once getting to the level that we all hope for.

“I think the way they’ve done it, with no sense of arrogance or entitlement, has been fantastic.

“They have been humble all the way through and that comes from the top.

“Of course, we’ve been blessed by having so many of our games at Wembley. That’s a decision taken during my time to build the new Wembley which has come to pay dividends.

BEN WHITE CANNOT WAIT FOR ENGLAND'S BIG DAY

“I was there the other night. It was an incredible atmosphere.

“We all dreamed, when we first decided to go ahead to rebuild Wembley, that one day we’d host a major tournament where England were successful and the majority of the people in it would be home fans of England.

“It’s literally a dream come true -I mean literally. Absolutely incredible.

“And it’s going to come towards the end of a pandemic that we hope it somehow feels even more special. I think the country needed a lift.”

Now can they finish the job?

Barber said: “I’m delighted for English football, because it’s a magnificent opportunity, regardless of the result.

“It has heightened people’s appetite for football again.

“Behaviour during the tournament has been almost exemplary, which again, hasn’t always been the case in the past.

“I hope, win or lose, that will continue.”