Adam Lallana was in the stands at Wembley last time England played at a Euros.
The outgoing Albion midfielder will be watching from a sun-lounger on his holidays this time.
But he has confidence in Gareth Southgate’s squad and has seen at close quarters how the national set-up works.
Not just as a player on his way to 34 caps but also, more recently, with coaching staff.
Lallana has had a mentoring role with the Three Lions under-21s which has been wide-ranging.
He has now left Albion as a player but fully expects to be back one day and has his eyes on a future “out on the grass” in coaching.
So lessons learnt with England of late could yet come back to benefit the Seagulls.
Roberto De Zerbi was quite willing to let Lallana join up with England during international breaks, a decision which could have long-term benefits for Albion.
Lallana said: “(Albion technical director) David Weir is really good mates with (England under-21s boss) Lee Carsley. They played together and the opportunity came up for me to go and be the player mentor.
“Joleon Lescott was in that role before me.
“The minute I got asked to do it, I knew I was going to go.
“I was like, ‘Wow, I’m excited by this’ and I have absolutely loved it.
“Did I burn the candle at both ends, looking back? Probably.
“Mixing playing, then going away in the international break?
“Yes, it was a challenge and I actually feel like I managed playing and doing that really well.
“I need to speak to Lee about that next year.
“I have got a feeling they might want someone doing that to maybe not be playing, moving forward.
“I can see why because it is tough, managing your energy and everything.
“But it was an amazing insight for me, going away and sitting at the coaches’ table.
“I would join in with sessions because of numbers, which helped me because I’m still a player.
“I’m really proud of how I managed that, and I have got great relationships with some of the young lads there.
“I saw the work and the hours that go into being on the other side of the table.
“I know that as well because Roberto let me shadow him last year when I wasn’t fit.
“I have got a good idea of how difficult it is being a coach.
“It is not easy and it’s very different to being a player.
“The way you have got to communicate with people, planning, the language, preparation, the expectation.
“Not worrying just about yourself.
“You have basically got 25 kids rather than just the three that I have got!
“Do I want that? These are all things that go through your head.
“But, when you strip it back, I love being on the grass. My passion is footy and I love being on the grass so I’m going to end up doing that, it’s not a question.
“I just get too much fulfilment out of it.”
Carsley was happy for Lallana to do some coaching work at St George’s Park.
The former Liverpool man said: “Because I want to be a coach, Lee added that.
“I was taking bits of coaching, I was leading sessions before Lee took the group.
“He gave me access to develop.
“I was taking unit meetings, I was debriefing games.
“Standing up in front of 25 lads you don’t really know, debriefing games, is me being out of my comfort zone and learning a lot, which is why it was such a good experience.
“I speak to a lot of the lads now away from football, asking how they are getting on.
“Just offering any advice if they need it.
“I suppose that is what a mentoring role is.
“But that is what an assistant’s role is, that is what a coach’s role is.
“It is being there for every single player in whatever role needs to be.”
Lallana was keen to get what information he could from senior internationals.
He got some insight, for example, into the work Jude Bellingham does at Real Madrid.
In terms of balancing the talent available, he has faith in Southgate to make the right calls but warns it isn’t as easy as putting all the attacking players in an XI, adding: “This isn’t Championship Manager!”
Lallana would love to see England go a step further than last time, when Italy beat them on penalties in the final.
He said: “I went to every home game, took my lad. Wembley is only up the road.
“I loved it. Being with the 21s at St George’s Park, you rub shoulders with those boys.
“I’d be picking their brains on what they are up to, what’s happening with sessions.
“Just talking footy because at the end of the day we all love footy.
“I’ll be a massive fan in the summer.”
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