THE last four contenders slipped by the wayside yesterday as England finally completed their long march to the European Championship. Dennis Wise, Robert Lee, Ugo Ehiogu and Jason Wilcox left Heathrow Airport knowing that, like Peter Beardsley, their role in Euro `96 would be confined to that of spectator.

For the remaining 22 players on England's tour to China and Hong Kong there was only relief, their 13-hour journey eased by the knowledge that, on Sunday evening, they will be meeting again at Bisham Abbey to prepare for Euro `96.

There must have been some difficult goodbyes at Heathrow. Ehiogu and Wilcox have come late into contention and that will ease the pain of rejection. But Wise was in the second squad Terry Venables named, more than two years ago. He and Venables are relatively close. The only consolation for Wise, as he began to contemplate his summer, is that at the end of it his former club manager, Glenn Hoddle, will be coaching England.

There is no such straw to clutch at for Lee, the man who was described as the best midfielder in England by his club manager, Kevin Keegan. At 30, his England career, which began 19 months ago, could be over. His exit is a surprise - he has played in every England match for which he was fit this season.

One of the chosen 22, Steve Howey was not even due to travel to China. He came in late when Mark Wright dropped out and has still to prove his fitness. Venables, incidentally, made one last telephone call to Wright at the weekend to see if there was any chance of including him.

"I know I'm lucky to be in, but only because of my injury problems," Howey said. "If I hadn't spent so much time out of action, I'm certain I would have been picked automatically. I know I can get myself into shape. I'll train with Derek Wright (the Newcastle physio) tomorrow and Thursday, and go down to London on Friday before the rest of the lads for some more work."

In attack, Venables chose both Les Ferdinand and Robbie Fowler, presumably on the basis that it was too risky to have just one alternative to Shearer. That meant something had to give, and it appears to be on the wing.

In omitting Wilcox and Wise, Venables has lost two of the best crossers. Wilcox's omission also means there is no left-footed winger in the party - the surviving wide men, Darren Anderton, Steve McManaman and Steve Stone, are all right-footed.

Anderton is one of four Tottenham players, which suggests that Alan Sugar's one-time ban on Venables visiting White Hart Lane was less damaging than they feared. No other team provides more than three: the champions, Manchester United, have only two.

Only four of the party have playing experience of a European Championship: Stuart Pearce, David Platt and Alan Shearer were in Sweden in 1992, Tony Adams played in Germany four years earlier.