Venables oversaw a much improved performance at the 1996 European Championships. As the hosts, England qualified automatically, leaving Venables only friendly matches in which to test out potential new players after the World Cup qualifying disaster. In a tournament that marked the 30th anniversary of the 1966 World Cup victory, Venables deployed emerging younger stars such as Steve McManaman, Darren Anderton and Gary Neville alongside established players from previous campaigns, including Gascoigne, Platt, Stuart Pearce and Tony Adams, who featured in his first tournament since the debacle of 1988.