The memory of leaving Manchester United for the Fourth Division helped David Platt keep his feet on the ground during an illustrious playing career, but his emotions may go through the roof if his England Under-21 side take a first-leg lead over the Netherlands in tonight's Uefa Championship play-off in Utrecht.A close confidant of Sven Goran Eriksson, in whose midfield he served at Sampdoria, the 35-year-old Platt envies the Swede's unflappable nature. The England manager's reaction to the late David Beckham goal which earned a place in the World Cup finals was, he suggests, as wild as it gets."When Sven ran down the steps at Old Trafford, fists clenched, that was him being extravagant," Platt says. "If that had been me, you'd have had to pick me off the rafters when Becks scored because I'm up and down like a toilet seat I wish I was like that. It's a great way to be." In fact, Eriksson and Platt are alike in the most critical respect. An empathy which started in the rarefied atmosphere of Serie A has hardened into shared beliefs about how to harness the distinctive physical attributes of the British game to the burgeoning skills that contribute to the compelling spectacle that is the Premiership.All England managers espouse tactical continuity between national teams of different age groups. With Eriksson and Platt -- sorcerer and apprentice, supremo and possible successor -- the sense of key figures singing from the same hymn sheet is stronger than ever.This week, however, the "big" team have only a home friendly against Sweden whereas the Under-21s are striving to reach next May's finals. Priority has therefore been given to the junior partner's requirements for the Nieuw Galgenwaard stadium and the second leg at Derby next Tuesday.Normally, Platt admits, he must wait to learn who Eriksson intends to pick and plan accordingly "That hasn't been the case this time.
It was: 'OK, who do you want?' I said I wouldn't mind Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves, even though Owen's now had to pull out. Sven went bang: 'You got 'em'."Everybody has to look at the wider picture. If some of them had been in the squad against Sweden, Sven may have started one and another might have come on. They'll be thinking: 'I could have been making my full England debut', but I think they're professional enough to realise this is the more important game at this time."Early next year I will, hopefully, be preparing for the Uefa Championships, but the World Cup preparations will then take precedence.
So if a David Dunn, Darius Vassell, John Terry, Ledley King or a Wayne Bridge is going to get into one of England's friendlies, I could be selfish and say: 'Well, I'm preparing for a tournament'."You wouldn't do that but this is a strange one because we still have a qualifying hurdle to overcome and he [Eriksson] has a friendly. It's good that we've got a rapport because he could have said: 'I'm taking them'." The players name-checked by the former Nottingham Forest manager are those, along with the comparatively seasoned full international Gareth Barry, whom he regards as fringe candidates for England's party in Japan and South Korea. Eriksson and Platt have, as usual, reached an understanding which balances the desirability of player-development against the need to win a particular fixture.They agreed that Dunn – "a real player," Platt enthuses of the versatile Blackburn midfielder who will be captain in Utrecht – and company would be better off in the Under-21s. "Fortunately we're in a position where development comes by going to a major tournament.
