One of only two significant international tournaments to be hosted by England, Euro 96 brought with it a real sense of optimism for the English public.
England’s major trophy cabinet was still solely occupied by the 1966 World Cup, in which they were the host nation, and the millions of England fans felt this could be another historic victory.
Thanks to England’s role as the host country, there was an electrifying energy that had consumed the whole of the British Isles. With even Scotland qualifying, a tournament of unparalleled atmosphere and fanfare beckoned.
The two sides would even see the tournaments most infamous moment, as they met in the group stage
The event itself was historic for much more than just its football-mad host nation. This occasion marked the first expansion of the tournament, as the number of teams doubled, featuring 16 teams instead of 8.
The stakes were higher, the rivalries more intense and frequent and most importantly, with a wider range of teams, play style and cultures, the football more enthralling than ever before.
With many memorable group-stage games, the tournament exploded into life, with some of the competition’s best moments coming before the knockout rounds had even started.
A Group Stage Overview
No major international group stage is without drama, and Euro 96 was certainly no exception.
With 1 game left, Group A seemed all but wrapped up, as Scotland and Switzerland were reliant on England beating The Netherlands, whilst needing a goal-difference swing of 4.
It was unlikely, but when a Shearer penalty put England 1-0 up in the 23rd minute, hope filtered around both sets of fans in the game between 3rd and 4th.
Scotland drew first blood, as future Sky pundit Ally Mcoist scored a vital opener, putting Scotland level on points with the Dutch.
3 goals and 50 minutes later, Scotland were still 1-0 in front, as England had taken a 4-0 lead, putting Scotland in second by virtue of a single goal.
As far as the Dutch were concerned, however, it might have well been 1-0, as just a single goal in either game would change the whole scope of the group.
Sadly, England failed to keep a clean sheet, as Patrick Kluivert scored the goal that would send the Dutch through.
To make matters worse for the Scots, the sides were level on goal difference, as Scotland were eliminated by the excruciatingly small margin of goals scored.
Group B also went down to the wire; an 84th-minute goal from Spain against Romania put Spain through ahead of a Bulgaria side led by Hristo Stoichkov.
Spain needed a France win to make it through, which a world-class France side duly delivered, despite Bulgaria threatening a comeback at one point.
Group C hosted the most dramatic finales of them all. A youthful Czech Republic side was completely even across the board with Italy after 2 games, making the final game loaded with tension.
Italy, in a fashion typical of Catenaccio football, stalled out group winners Germany to a 0-0 draw, hoping for a favour from Russia.
As anti-climactic as Italy vs. Germany had been, the other match would more than makeup for the lack of action elsewhere.
The Game of the Group Stage
Czechia had taken an early 2-0 lead after 19 minutes, blasting out of the gates as Russia looked likely to finish the tournament without a single point.
The score stayed the same through to the half-time interval. With nothing for Russia to play for, most saw the half-time scoreline and assumed the Czech Republic had done the job.
But Russians are never ones to bow down from a fight. Five minutes after the break, Russia were back in it. Russian icon Mostovoi giving Italians everywhere a glimmer of hope.
Another 5 minutes later and the unthinkable happened…
2-2. But, this was still just about good enough for the former Yugoslavian nation, as they would pip Italy on head-to-head stats, having beaten Italy 2-1.
Italy needed another Russian goal, it was the only way they were to qualify, with the final matches of a group played at the same time, the players were playing blind, with nothing but an idea of the scores at half-time.
At this point, the Czech Republic side were holding on for dear life, completely sucker-punched by a Russian onslaught. The bear would no doubt tire eventually, but how much damage could it do before it did?
The answer was swiftly provided by Russian forward Vladimir Beschastnykh, touching the ball down, with space and time 30 metres out from goal. There was one thing on his mind, only looking up as he swung his foot back.
The keeper had no chance, it flew into the top left-hand corner, and Russia were 3-2 up.
Football is a game where nothing is certain, and both Italy and the Czech Republic found this out the hard way.
Though as much as Russia would soon find this out as well, Italy would be hit the hardest…
Just 3 minutes later, a terrible pass gifted the Czech side possession. A lofted ball set Vladimir Smicer through on goal.
There was only one outcome. Smicer prodded a shot home to equalise, sending his nation through.
The final Group was a lot more cut and dry. Croatia and Portugal romped through fairly comfortably, as Turkey put on a brave display in a tough group.
The Quarter-Finals
The first round of knockout games proved to be universally cagey.
England faced Spain in a dull match that needed penalties to see a ball hit the net. England were well prepared and won 4-2 in the shootout.
It was a similar story between powerhouses France and the Netherlands, a Seedorf penalty miss the deciding factor in another 0-0.
There were some goals to be seen, however, as Germany beat a competitive Croatian side, featuring cult hero Davor Suker 2-1.
The real story of the game however was Mathias Sammer, who seemed to be the second coming of Beckenbauer, defensively unstoppable and making the difference on the day with a match-winning goal for Germany.
Finally, Portugal would fall to the youthful Czech side 1-0, in another tightly contested affair.
The Semi-Finals
The next round brought even tighter matches. France was thwarted by the Czechs who shocked everyone by securing a place in the final. It took another penalty shoot-out following another 0-0 draw, the knockouts sadly proving far less exciting in terms of on-the-pitch action than the group stages.
But the big story, the big game, was the Semi-Final clash between England and Germany.
Considered England’s biggest rivals, by fans at least, thanks to England’s neighbouring teams being much weaker, the atmosphere at the match was unforgettable.
The rivalry had roots tied to both World Wars, and had thankfully simmered from hatred in the 50s to a fierce sporting rivalry thanks to the competitiveness of the two teams over the years.
As kick-off loomed, fans’ nerves grew. This was England’s best team in decades, certainly the best since 1966. This was their best chance to win their first European Championship.
The match kicked off, prompting an almighty roar that reverberated around the old Wembley Stadium. Fans were desperate for a good start, something to kill the nerves a bit, but nobody would have dared to dream of just how good a start they’d make.
English Heartbreak
With just over a minute gone, a Stuart Pearce cross was cleared by Germany, the ball falling to Paul Ince at least 35 yards out from goal. He had no right to shoot as he chested the ball up to himself. But shoot he did, forcing a smart stop from Kopke in goal.
It lifted the crowd off their feet, and with a corner, there was still reason to stand.
A Gascoigne ball into the near post, deftly flicked on by Tony Adams had the German defence scrambling to pick up an on-rushing Alan Shearer. With 4 goals in 4 games so far, it was the absolute last person the German faithful wanted to see running onto a loose ball in the box.
Shearer drove home, as England inside 3 minutes found themselves in dreamland. 1-0. In that moment of ecstasy, it all felt like this was England’s tournament.
The German’s leaving Shearer unmarked from a corner? That just didn’t happen.
It was pandemonium. For the next 12 minutes…
Germany soon equalised through a well-worked move, finished off by the unfortunately named Kuntz, on hand to slide the ball home.
At 1-1, nerves at full capacity, neither side really went for it until extra time.
What Could Have Been…
England knew they were facing the penalty-taking equivalent of The Terminator. They knew their best chance was scoring the golden goal.
Darren Anderton would strike the post from just outside the 6-yard box, England inches away from winning it right there and then.
But the moment that will forever live in the heads of England fans came just a few minutes later. Another England break, culminated into a sumptuous ball across the 6-yard box, begging to be tapped in.
It fizzed along the grass, as German hearts went into German mouths, seeing a sprinting Gazza launch himself at the ball. At full stretch, Gascoigne could only manage the slightest of touches, the ball bobbling over his foot as a result, leaving Gazza sprawled out on the turf,
English fans still to this day remark, that had Gascoigne’s studs been just a millimetre longer, they would have won the whole thing.
The game went to penalties, and as expected it was Germany’s tie. England were valiant, even taking the shootout to sudden death. But, after a Southgate miss, Andy Moller would slam home his penalty, sending Germany through to the final.
Like all the knockout games before it, the Final was just as close. The Czechs took the lead through a Patrik Berger penalty, but it was two incisive Oliver Bierhoff goals, his second the golden goal in extra time, that gave Germany their 3rd European Championship.
