The photo above shows Steve Stone in action
during the game against Scotland at Euro '96.
Career Record: P9, W4, D5
Goals: 2.
11/10/95 v Norway (A) D 0-0 (F) sub
15/11/95 v Switzerland (H) W 3-1 (F) sub, 1 goal
12/12/95 v Portugal (H) D 1-1 (F) 1 goal
27/03/96 v Bulgaria (H) W 1-0 (F)
24/04/96 v Croatia (H) D 0-0 (F)
23/05/96 v China (A) W 3-0 (F) sub
08/06/96 v Switzerland (H) D 1-1 (EC) sub
15/06/96 v Scotland (H) W 2-0 (EC) sub
22/06/96 v Spain (H) D 0-0 (won pens) (EC)
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Steve Stone in action for England on 1st. June 1996. Photo Stuart Franklin. © G.H.
| Never the quickest or glitziest player for a wide man, Steve Stone made up for his unglamorous persona by being dependable and - crucially - capable of transferring his stirring club form on the right flank for Nottingham Forest on to international arenas, something which allegedly more talented players, especially wingers, had failed to do. Though Tottenham's Darren Anderton was seemingly unshiftable as the first choice occupier of the right flank, Stone was a gifted and willing deputy, handed his debut by Terry Venables in 1995 as a sub for Dennis Wise during a goalless friendly in Norway. With no competitive matches for more than two years owing to England's automatic entry into the 1996 European Championships as host nation, Venables could afford a spot of switching and tinkering and, possibly by accident, he found a gem in the Forest wideman. Stone's finishing ability helped, scoring the third goal as England cast the Swiss aside 3-1 at Wembley in only his second appearance (and yet to start a game) and then, in beginning an England game for the first time, he scored again in a 1-1 draw against the Portuguese. By now his place for the squad seemed assured, even at such an early stage, as his obvious facility to deputise for Anderton had been enhanced further by a happy knack in the goalscoring stakes. Venables duly put him in the squad and Steve came on as a substitute three times, including the tight quarter-final against Spain which England won on penalties. He didn't get on for the semi-final as England exited via the shootout against the Germans, and a broken leg put paid to future hopes by the time Glenn Hoddle started making his own plans as Venables' successor. Nevertheless, Stone provided the observer with one of the more admirable of the shorter England careers. (Matthew Rudd) |