Football's glitterati were guests at the ball on Wednesday. The Champions League Final drew Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson plus Bayern Munich's Franz Beckenbauer and Ottmar Hitzfeld to the Stade de France like moths to a naked flame.

Yet, one notable face was missing as the Spanish fiesta was played out in front of them.

Kevin Keegan was not in Paris for a very simple reason. He wanted to be with his England players, helping them cheer Steve McManaman as they watched on television and asking the questions he believes they will have to answer in order to succeed in Euro 2000.

That is the essence of Keegan. Nobody was more excited by McManaman's display than the England coach but his desire to bond even further with his squad explained why he was at Burnham Beeches rather than the City of Love.

ITV would have loved Keegan to be among their panellists, alongside Terry Venables, mulling over the intricacies of the game, waxing lyrical about McManaman's sparkling contribution.

Yet, Keegan felt that he would be better served by sitting down with those he will lead into the European Championships than by flitting across the Channel to enjoy the spectacle.

It could be argued that Keegan may have been able to spot something that would help counter Real's Raul and Fernando Morientes, also Valencia's Gaizka Mendieta, should England have to come up against Spain in the Low Countries, by watching their movement off the ball, something the television cameras can never capture.

But Keegan was keener to discuss with Tony Adams and Sol Campbell how they would counter the runs of the Real strikers, to ask Dennis Wise about how Mendieta should be closed down.

There could be no more graphic demonstration of Keegan's style of management. He believes it is players, not systems, that win matches.

Doubts persist over his tactical acumen, question marks that can only be erased on the pitch over the next six weeks. But there are none whatsoever over Keegan's powers to make his players believe in his vision, to persuade them to share his dream.

Keegan's Pied Piper qualities with the supporters were evident at Newcastle and once again when he took over as England manager.

After all, what other England boss would have wheelchair-bound fans waiting for hours after the final whistle at Wembley just to have a sight of him as he climbed into his car back to the north-east?

What is sometimes forgotten is that this aura works with the play-ers he has under his command as well.

He loves to talk to them, put his arm around their shoulders, make real personal contact. It is more than a normal player-manager relationship.

There is a genuine warmth as he asks about their health and families, taking a real interest.

Keegan wants his players to believe they are 10 feet tall, think they are world-beaters and know that they are ready to die for the England cause.

His philosophy is simple - it worked for me.

The man who became 'Mighty Mouse' was rejected by his home-town club Doncaster as too small to be a professional.

He was not gifted by the gods with the skill of George Best or the physical attributes of many of the greats.

Yet, despite the obstacles nature and fate placed in front of him, Keegan worked ceaselessly to turn himself into a double European Footballer of the Year and, arguably, England's most revered export to Germany.

As Keegan conceded earlier this week, he was the embodiment of the 'I'll show 'em' mindset.

He said: 'I had that all my life. People turned me down as a player, said I wasn't good enough. I wanted to prove them wrong. We need that sometimes.'

For Keegan the player, read Keegan the manager. His attitude is the product of his footballing education, schooled at Liverpool's Melwood training ground under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.

His passion for football is undiminished and enthusiasm infectious. We will discover soon whether that is sufficient to bridge the gap.

But Keegan will be true to himself. He would not have it any other way.

Brazil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo last night warned England that his side will improve from Tuesday's 3-0 demolition of Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

Brazil will be without Real Madrid's Champions League winner Roberto Carlos, a tendinitis victim, at Wembley tomorrow and Luxemburgo said: 'The level of performance against Wales was OK but since England are a better team than Wales, then Brazil will be better, too. 'I know it is only a friendly but it is one we want to win. That's why I want my wing backs, Cafu and Silvinho, to concentrate on marking more than on defending.

'This means the same to us as it does England. Just as Kevin Keegan wants a good result ahead of Euro 2000, so we have important World Cup qualifying matches coming up.'