WHEN Terry Venables picked his first squad, in March 1994, he said he wished he could have called up 50 players, rather than the 18 he had chosen.

It sounded like a typical Venables quip, but it was not. Tomorrow, two years, three months and 19 internationals later, he picks his first competitive XI, having given auditions to 54.

Ever since he got the job Venables has complained he did not have enough matches in which to develop his team. In consequence, he has had to move quicker than he wanted. He has never sent the same team out twice, he has only played four games without giving someone a debut, and eight players have been discarded after playing just one game. No wonder one critic accused him of throwing around caps like confetti.

Venables reacted angrily to that charge and, despite all the chopping and changing, he may have been justified in doing so. Whilst he has never stopped experimenting, he has preserved several strands of continuity.

From the first, Venables sought to build a squad which is flexible and versatile. The emphasis has been on intelligent players with the wit and awareness to adapt to a variety of systems and formations. There has also been a growing trend towards youth. Four players, Nick Barmby, Sol Campbell, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp, who were brought into the squad for the United States game "for the experience", are now in the final 22 on merit.

There has also been continuity in the line-ups. Ten of his first squad have made it through to the final 22. Alan Shearer, Tony Adams and Darren Anderton have played in every game for which they have been fit, David Platt has only missed out once. At left-back, either Graeme Le Saux, or his replacement Stuart Pearce, has played every game except the last - when Phil Neville was given a debut.

In goal, David Seaman gradually saw off the challenge of Tim Flowers. Teddy Sheringham and Nick Barmby superceded Peter Beardsley. Gary Neville stepped ahead of Rob Jones. The latter, like Le Saux, Gary Pallister, Mark Wright and Stan Collymore, was finally ruled out of Euro 96' through injury.

Matt Le Tissier has barely rated a mention in recent weeks but, 15 months ago, the country was calling for him. He was dropped after the Dublin debacle and his subsequent form has precluded any clamour for a recall.

When Teddy Sheringham came in to play off Shearer, they clicked from the start. Shearer has since struggled to score goals but, general, chances have been created elsewhere and Venables' policy of picking goal scoring midfielders suggests England will not suffer many blanks.

Venables tried other ideas. Against Ireland he also aimed to push the full-backs into midfield and pull Paul Ince back towards the central defence. It was too early, the team were a mess and Ince was not happy playing there. Thirteen months and a spell of exile later Ince was more amenable and the team had a better understanding of Venables' aim.

He was now seeking to follow Ajax's defensive system. The full-backs were pulled in rather than pushed up, a central defender was asked to be prepared to step into midfield - or a central midfielder be ready to step back.

"You need the players," Don Howe said. Southgate's emergence solved the former problem, Ince's development the latter. England are now capable of playing the numbers game in midfield.

Wright and Le Saux will be missed, but most teams have some injury problems. Venables has achieved the flexibility he aimed for, though he would have liked to give Southgate, Steve Howey, Sol Campbell and others more experience.

Now it is down to his best XI. It is not in Venables' nature to pick a side and stick by it, he will adapt it to suit each game and use substitutes liberally. The plotting, planning and praying have not finished yet they are only just beginning.