Whenever I’m asked about my most cherished memories playing for England, two moments instantly spring to mind: being named captain, and that unforgettable night we demolished the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley during Euro 96. It was a truly magical experience, and the memory resurfaced vividly when the Euro 2024 semi-final lineup was recently confirmed. I can still picture myself in the penalty box, watching Paul Gascoigne weaving through the Dutch defense, setting up Teddy Sheringham. My arms were raised, urging Teddy to pass, and then the sheer exhilaration of striking the ball into the top corner, the celebration, the collective euphoria of players, staff, and fans – pure dreamland.
To call it just the best team performance of my England career, spanning from 1992 to 2000, feels like an understatement. In my lifetime, it stands out as the most dominant and complete performance by England I have ever witnessed. Frankly, when you consider the historical context, there isn’t much competition.
The decades of the 70s and 80s were barren for the England squad. The 1990 World Cup offered a glimmer of hope, culminating in that agonizing semi-final loss to Germany on penalties – a fate that would repeat itself at Euro 96. We battled fiercely against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, only to be defeated again in a penalty shootout. The 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich in 2001 was incredible, but it was a World Cup qualifier, somehow different in weight and atmosphere compared to a major tournament game.
It’s really only since Gareth Southgate’s tenure that England has consistently performed at a high level in major tournaments. We’ve seen dramatic moments like the shootout win against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup, victories over Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark on our path to the Euro 2020 final, and comfortable wins against Iran, Wales, and Senegal at the 2022 World Cup. Even recent tense wins against Slovakia and Switzerland highlight a new resilience.
However, when it comes to a single, breathtaking performance, nothing matches the heights we reached on Tuesday, June 18, 1996. That night, we embodied everything our manager Terry Venables believed we could be.
Alan Shearer celebrates scoring against the Netherlands in Euro 96, capturing the euphoria of a magical night at Wembley.
There’s a reason why, even 28 years later, people like me still talk about it with such reverence. It’s not nostalgia inflating the memory; the magic was palpable even as it unfolded. Walking off the pitch, even while still on it with a 4-0 lead and time ticking away, there was an undeniable sense of witnessing something truly extraordinary.
It was one of those rare football matches, especially for England in international competitions, where absolutely everything clicked into place.
Growing up, Dutch football held a certain mystique. Johan Cruyff and the “Total Football” philosophy of the 1970s teams were legendary. Then came the phenomenal team that conquered Euro 1988, featuring Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten in their prime.
By the mid-90s, a new wave of Dutch talent was emerging, largely from the renowned Ajax academy. I recall being in Vienna as a guest of Umbro, watching Ajax defeat a legendary AC Milan side in the 1995 Champions League final. That young Ajax team, boasting names like Edwin van der Sar, the De Boer twins, Michael Reiziger, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, and Patrick Kluivert, was breathtaking. Their speed, skill, and one-touch, two-touch passing were unlike anything we had seen before.
When the Euro 96 draw placed us in the same group as the Netherlands, many anticipated we were battling for second place. England had endured a difficult period: eliminated in the Euro 92 group stage, failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. As hosts, the two years leading up to Euro 96 were spent building, but without truly igniting excitement. Personally, I had gone through a 12-game goal drought for England leading into the tournament.
One thing I clearly remember is Terry Venables’ tactical flexibility. Even in the months leading up to Euro 96, he emphasized using different systems and formations throughout the tournament. We practiced starting in a 4-4-2 and seamlessly transitioning to a back three, a midfield diamond, or the “Christmas tree” 4-3-2-1 formation.
On paper, our formation against the Dutch appeared to be a 4-4-2: David Seaman in goal; Gary Neville, Gareth Southgate, Tony Adams, and Stuart Pearce across the defense; Steve McManaman, Gazza, Paul Ince, and Darren Anderton in midfield; and Teddy Sheringham and myself up front.
England's starting lineup against the Netherlands at Euro 96, showcasing the tactical flexibility under Terry Venables.
However, it was far more dynamic. Under Terry’s guidance, we were incredibly fluid. Gary Neville or Gareth Southgate would step into midfield, McManaman would push high on the right, and Darren Anderton would drift inside. Teddy Sheringham instinctively knew when to play alongside me and when to drop into the space behind. This constant movement and interchange were central to Terry’s masterful plan.
Instead of focusing solely on neutralizing the Dutch stars, Terry’s audacious approach was to challenge them at their own game. It was a bold strategy, especially considering the group dynamics. Back then, only the top two teams advanced to the knockout stages. A loss to the Netherlands that night could have meant elimination, a devastating prospect for our home tournament since 1966.
The pressure was immense.
I rewatched the game a few years ago for a BBC documentary, my first viewing in a long time. It was reassuring to see that the Dutch were indeed as talented and quick in possession as I remembered.
But we drew first blood with a penalty, which I converted. Two things stand out from that moment. First, Paul Ince’s incredible skill that drew the foul from Danny Blind; Incey was phenomenal throughout that tournament.
That turn from Ince 👌
And the penalty never in doubt from Shearer 👊
Relive England v Netherlands from Euro 96 on today’s #BBCEuros Rewind.
📺 @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer and online from 15:00 (BST). pic.twitter.com/mTkIh5TCpB
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 13, 2020
Second, as I stepped up to take the penalty, I remember looking at Edwin van der Sar and thinking, “He looks enormous in that goal. I have to place this perfectly into the side-netting because if I don’t, and he guesses right, he’s saving it.”
Seeing the ball hit the back of the net was a huge relief. It was my third goal of the tournament, ending that long scoreless streak, and my confidence surged. I could feel the team’s belief growing with every minute.
The second half is where the true magic unfolded. Teddy Sheringham made it 2-0 with a header from a corner, setting the stage for a period of dominance and brilliance that every footballer dreams of.
I’ve already mentioned my second goal. I cherish that goal. I was shouting for the pass, though I honestly expected Teddy to shoot himself, given his excellent position. He faked a shot, then laid it off to me, and I just focused on connecting cleanly and powerfully. It was one of the sweetest strikes of my career, curving away from Van der Sar and into the top corner.
⏳⏪ The last time @England met the Netherlands in a major tournament…@alanshearer ⚽️🙋♂️#FlashbackFriday pic.twitter.com/buFetiieqy
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) May 31, 2019
And this highlights the contrast between Teddy and me as players.
In our opening game against Switzerland, I had a similar opportunity to pass across the six-yard box for Teddy to tap in. I’m sure Teddy wasn’t surprised when I took the shot myself; my desperation to score after such a long drought was immense, and thankfully, it went in.
But in that moment against the Netherlands, when Teddy had the ball, I wasn’t even sure if he saw or heard me, despite my raised arms and shouts. But Teddy possessed an incredible awareness of everyone’s positioning. He was such an intelligent and selfless player, and I was thrilled when he scored his second goal, making it 4-0. Incredible.
Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham celebrate a goal against the Netherlands, highlighting their partnership and England's attacking prowess.
Terry Venables substituted both of us shortly after, and I remember being slightly annoyed. Terry was wisely thinking ahead to the knockout stages, keeping us fresh, but as a striker, my mindset was, “Wait, I’m on a hat-trick here! I’m in form! I want the Golden Boot!” But on a night like that, personal ambitions had to take a backseat. It was undoubtedly the right decision for the team.
Watching the final minutes from the bench, the atmosphere was electric. I had played for England for four years, but I had never experienced anything like those few days. First, the victory over Scotland on Saturday, and then this – it was on another level. “Football’s coming home” and everything that encapsulated.
The euphoria continued in the dressing room and back at the hotel bar afterward, filled with drinks and celebratory singing. We knew we had been part of something truly special that night.
The Euro 96 scoreline at Wembley, a testament to England's dominant performance against the Netherlands.
Expectations were modest going into the tournament, but after thrashing the Netherlands 4-1, a new belief took hold: “We might actually have a chance here.”
The next day, I went for a haircut in Burnham. Stepping out of the taxi, I was met with a street party. People were still celebrating our victory from the night before. I had never witnessed anything like it. We were riding a wave of national euphoria. How far could it carry us?
It took us past Spain in the quarter-finals – narrowly, on penalties. It propelled us to extra time and penalties against Germany in the semi-finals. We came agonizingly close to the final. We can still reflect on the “what ifs”: Gazza’s desperate slide, inches away from connecting with my cross for a golden goal winner, Gareth Southgate’s penalty save. So, so close.
But we fell short. That team reached a semi-final, but never a final. Football can be decided by fine margins, and for too long, England seemed to be on the wrong side of them, whether through penalties or other cruel twists of fate.
This current England team is different. They seem to consistently land on the right side of those tight margins. While they haven’t fully clicked into top gear at this tournament, they are consistently getting the job done. I’ve been critical of some performances, but there’s an undeniable admirable quality in their resilience and focus. Under Gareth Southgate, we have become a team adept at tournament football.
Wouldn’t it be incredible if England could replicate a performance like the Euro 96 Netherlands game tonight (or for their upcoming match)? Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka unleashing their magic, Harry Kane finding the net multiple times. That’s the dream for all of us, including Gareth.
England team at Euro 2024, aiming to emulate the spirit and success of Euro 96.
Realistically, I don’t foresee a goal fest. It could be another tense, drawn-out affair.
Unless their performance level elevates, I might find myself expressing my frustrations in the commentary box again, as I have been doing recently. England’s football at this tournament hasn’t been free-flowing, and a dramatic shift in a high-stakes semi-final seems unlikely.
That was the extraordinary aspect of 1996. We knew we had talented players and strong personalities, but I don’t think even we fully grasped our collective potential in an England shirt until that night at Wembley.
It was a performance so exceptional that people still approach me to talk about it – about the quality of our play and the emotions it evoked. Sadly, we didn’t lift the trophy that summer.
Even if their performances haven’t quite reached those heights yet at this European Championship, I sincerely hope Gareth Southgate and his players can go one or two steps further and finally finish the job.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
