In the summer of 1996, England hosted the European Championship for the first time. It was thirty years since the 1966 World Cup, and for a few weeks the whole country seemed to believe that football was finally "coming home".
A nation's soundtrack
The tournament had an unofficial anthem: "Three Lions", a song by comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner with the band The Lightning Seeds. It went to number one, and its chorus was sung in stadiums and pubs across the country. The phrase "football's coming home" has been part of English football culture ever since.
A slow start
England, managed by Terry Venables, opened with a disappointing 1–1 draw against Switzerland at Wembley. The next match, against Scotland, was the oldest rivalry in international football — and it produced one of the most famous goals in England's history.
Gazza's moment
With England leading 1–0 through Alan Shearer, goalkeeper David Seaman saved a Scottish penalty. Moments later, Paul Gascoigne flicked the ball over defender Colin Hendry with his left foot and volleyed it into the net with his right. His celebration — lying on the grass as teammates squirted water into his mouth — became an iconic image of the decade.
The night England were brilliant
Next came the Netherlands, one of the favourites. England produced one of their finest performances, winning 4–1 with two goals each from Shearer and Teddy Sheringham. In the quarter-final, they beat Spain on penalties after a goalless draw.
Heartbreak against Germany
The semi-final at Wembley was against Germany. Shearer scored after just three minutes, but Germany equalised. Extra time was played under the "golden goal" rule, and Gascoigne came agonisingly close to winning it, sliding in just inches from a cross. The match went to penalties. Every player scored until Gareth Southgate's kick was saved, and Germany went through.
Germany went on to win the tournament, beating the Czech Republic in the final with a golden goal by Oliver Bierhoff.
Why Euro 96 still matters
England did not win Euro 96, but it changed the mood around English football. Stadiums were safer and more modern after the reforms of the early 1990s, the new Premier League was growing, and the national team had given the country a summer to remember. Shearer finished as the tournament's top scorer with five goals.
Watch: Gascoigne's flick and volley v Scotland
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