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Former Newcastle star Sol Campbell admits that England’s Golden Generation look back and believe things should have been done differently. The towering centre-back hopes that the modern England side can stay cool and focused in the States, but remember why they are there in the first place. England's fate at this year's World Cup could be decided tonight in a tough encounter with Mexico as they face a make or break last 16 clash. The downfall of the Golden Generation culminated 20 years ago in Germany when sleepy German town Baden Baden became nicknamed “WAG central” as Posh Spice and Cheryl Cole enjoyed more front pages than some of the Three Lions players. Get Chronicle Premium now for just £1 HERE – exclusive news and features, our NUFC and Academy notebooks, plus an ad-lite experience But 2006 also became the end of the cycle for England as they failed miserably to qualify for the 2008 European Championships and flopped at the next World Cup. From the length of Gazza’s stud at Wembley in the Euro 96 semi-final against Germany to narrowly missing out in 1998 in France against Argentina, and on to Euro 2004 and the World Cup two years in later in Germany, Campbell witnessed it all. Campbell believes there was too much focus on WAGs, too many squabbles between Man United and Liverpool stars and ultimately not enough focus on football when it mattered. On paper, a side boasting Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes should have had more than enough for any team in the world, but did not even reach a semi-final after Gazza’s miss at Wembley. Campbell twice scored goals that were chalked off against Argentina and Portugal that would have sent England on their way, but admits you are also relying on officials to "do their jobs". The former Arsenal and England ace said: "We had the team, but sometimes the PR got in the way a little bit too much instead of the football. "I think it is better now. Back then, there were too many people clamouring for inches and pages for the wrong reasons, not for football. "Off the field, things just got in the way. People wanted to be pictured here and there, families and girlfriends, it just went over the top. Instead of being discreet, nobody focused on the football. "It got worse and worse, and we just forgot to play football. It was how many sponsorships people could get or how many pictures in the papers they could get. "It was what it was, but we forgot that we were there to play football and there to win. Most people (from the England squad of the 2000s) say that now, they look back with a different perspective on life and are retired, they say: ‘Maybe we went too far’. "We should have concentrated on football and seen how far we could go. Have a laugh and don’t be cooked up in the training ground, but nobody should be above each other. You should all stick together." Internal rows between Liverpool and Man United stars have been well-documented since those days under Sven Goran Eriksson, not to mention the age-old argument of Lampard and Gerrard being unable to play together. Campbell said: "The Man United and Liverpool thing should have been relaxed and we should have got rid of that animosity. That took too long to dissipate. You need that extra 1%.” Campbell hopes that the current England side can make it into the last throes of the World Cup in the USA this summer after a steady start. Suggesting some advice to the class of 2026, Campbell said: "It’s never just another game, you have to be ready to sacrifice and play a really solid game. "You don’t need to blow the lights out, you need to be solid and make sure you are passing to a white shirt. All that sort of stuff, a good header, good pass and nothing stupid or rash - if in doubt play it easy and look for the pass. "You need to be aware of scenarios and do your job, the job you have been picked for. Then work as a team and go from there. But the main thing is getting your game right, then you help everyone else around, build into the game with everyone else around you.” England have tried to manage family time at this summer’s tournament while also basing themselves in Midwest America in Kansas City. Speaking on what life behind the four walls can be like, Campbell said: "When you are in a World Cup, you are not totally relaxed as in being locked in. "Obviously, you don’t know how it’s going to go once the national anthem starts and you get out there. With England, you need to elevate yourself to a different level. I played for England since I was 14, from Lilleshall to captain, not many have done that. "You have to turn up, but be calm and collected. You need to work out what you need before you even get on the pitch. You need a game plan, but you also need to tweak when you are out there, but you have to have a good idea of what the opposition is going to do. "You have to be comfortable with yourself and a lot of other things, billions of people are watching you. I think they have got a good chance (this year) - any team that classifies itself as a top team that doesn’t reach the quarter-finals have had a disastrous campaign." *Ex-Newcastle defender Campbell has sat down with former Newcastle No 9 Cole to discuss his life and career. Both parts of the documentary are now available on YouTube on the Legends Corner channel, and you can follow across all social media channels @LegendsCornerTV.
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