Euro 96 was a vintage international tournament.
Great goals, tense matches, a football-mad host nation, and like any classic tournament, England losing on penalties.
The drama, the gut-wrenching horror of seeing Southgate miss against Germany. It’s still a bitter pill to swallow, and I wasn’t even alive to see it.
But fear not those of English disposition, the most iconic moment of Euro 96, in my opinion, wasn’t the sting of a loss to Germany on penalties.
It was a piece of brilliant footballing ability, that combined with the perfect summation of British culture, by one of England’s most beloved players.
With many memorable group-stage games, the one that will always remain a core memory of fans who witnessed it would remain salient not for its importance, but for a vintage Paul Gascoigne moment, arguably his most famous goal in his career.
But it isn’t so well remembered just for the world-class goal.
With the score 1-0 to England, 77 minutes on the clock, Paul Gascoigne produced a moment of brilliance, flicking the ball over Scottish defender Hendry, and drilling the ball home on the half volley, the ball nestling into the bottom corner.
But for all the brilliance of the finish, it would be the celebration that captured the imagination of the football world.
Just days prior, Gascoigne had once again been all over the tabloids after a typical Gazza night out with the England boys.
England’s players were portrayed as drunken miscreants, with Gazza and the England squad particularly fond of a club notorious for a service known as “The Dentists Chair”.
The service in question involved patrons of the bar having spirits and other strong alcoholic drinks shot into their mouths, in a far messier parody of a dentist rinsing a patient’s mouth.
Gazza, always one looking to make light of his off-the-pitch controversies, celebrated his worldie of a goal by recreating the scenes at the nightclub, flopping on his back by the Scotland goal.
Mouth agape, as teammates Jamie Redknapp, Steve Mcmannaman and Alan Shearer rushed to sate Gazza’s thirst. The three propelled water into the Geordie Wonder’s mouth.
A late Sheringham arrived onto the scene belatedly to give him a quick squirt for good measure, as he rose to his feet.
The Context Behind the Celebration
The scenes of that infamous night were recreated in front of hundreds of millions of onlookers.
It was a celebration that epitomised the Geordie sense of humour, as Gazza in his own way stuck two fingers up at the press. His goal was more than enough to sway public opinion back on his side.
“I was first in the chair because it looked like a laugh,” Gascoigne told Four Four Two magazine. “Then a few of the other lads did it. It was good for team spirit.”
Their actions were savagely critiqued in the press by outraged tabloids, while many supporters chastised the players.
There was a backlash as the players were accused of being poor role models. Many also grew angry at the squad being out on the lash just days before a tournament when they should be preparing and knuckling down.
There may have been some fair points levelled at the players’ antics but the England squad would go on to put on a good performance at the tournament. The players even stated that the night itself and the public and press grilling the squad in the news helped team unity.
The night out was a team-building exercise in a way, as with a squad of players drawn from 11 different clubs, cohesion was never going to come easily.
Many who have dealt with the awkward first days of starting University and moving in with strangers will attest to the success of getting hammered as a collective on a night
England went on to give a brave display at the Euros, making it to the semi-final and getting the better of Germany over 120 minutes.
For all the sting of the loss on penalties, nobody in England blamed the players.
Just 17 days after the outrage, and the calls for Gazza’s removal from the squad, the Daily Mirror published “An apology to Mr Gascoigne”.
Their valiant efforts had done enough to sway the public back on their side and in particular Gazza’s.
There is never shame in losing to Germany on penalties.
