Sol: Inter win was best I've played in

"It was very quiet," he said. "Some of the boys slept, some read books, some listened to music, some watched DVDs. Why? Because we are not through yet and we know that. If we had won the final or something it might have been different but we have still to qualify. We need another performance.

" We will need the same approach against Lokomotiv Moscow in two weeks' time. We need to win.

"We were kind of in this position last season and we let ourselves down. We are determined we will not let that happen again."

The Inter game was laced with particular poignancy for Campbell because his father, Sewell, died on the night of the reverse fixture between the teams in September.

The death hit Campbell hard and he was given extended compassionate leave by the club while he came to terms with the loss of the dad he loved and admired.

"My parents came over to England from Jamaica to give their children a better chance in life and certainly I owed them plenty for what I have been able to achieve," he said.

"My father's death really affected me. It gave me a whole new perspective on things. I took time off to be with my family to come to terms with it all.

"Then one morning I felt ready to go back. I decided to go for a jog, to go out in the fresh air.

"It was strange because when I came back the gaffer rang to see how I was. It was time to return to football.

"It felt weird at first, being out there training. And what happened certainly made me feel different. Before, stupid little things used to niggle me but they don't now. I suppose you could say I tend now to seize the moment."

One of those moments may well come in Portugal next summer and Sunday's draw for the finals of Euro 2004 could pair England with France in the group stage. That will of course bring Campbell into direct conflict with Thierry Henry, the scourge of Milan on Tuesday night, scoring two of Arsenal's goals.

"He is some player," said Campbell who, as centre-back, has a privileged position to view the havoc which Henry can wreak.

"Exceptional is the word. He has the lot. Not only has he pace but he has the most incredible stamina.

"He just never stops running and not many players like him have his endurance. We could meet him if we play France but, to be honest, it is hard just to concentrate on the threat that he will be. France are a fantastic team and are full of superb players.

"Okay, you stop Henry and Robert Pires comes through. Then there's David Trezeguet and what do you do about Zinedine Zidane?

"What I would say is that if England play them, it is better to do so at the group stage rather than the knock-out stage. There is the argument that if you lose in the group, you can still recover and go through.

"That won't be possible in the knock-out part of the tournament. But it is also better because if you do meet them again in the knockouts, it won't come as a shock. You will know what to expect."