For any England player reflecting on their international career, certain moments shine brighter than others. For me, the two standouts are undoubtedly being named captain and that unforgettable night at Wembley when we dismantled the Netherlands 4-1 during Euro 96. The memory of that game, a true masterclass of English football against a formidable Dutch side, immediately springs to mind whenever the conversation turns to great England performances in the Euros.
It’s vivid even now, like watching it again in my mind’s eye. I can picture myself in the penalty box, Gazza weaving his magic between orange shirts, a deft pass to Teddy Sheringham. My arms are up, urging for the ball, and then the sweet connection, striking it with everything I had, watching it fly into the top corner. The explosion of celebration that followed – players, staff, fans – Wembley erupting in pure euphoria. It was dreamland.
To simply call it my best performance in an England shirt, across my career from 1992 to 2000, feels like an understatement. In fact, I’d argue it was the best England team performance I’ve witnessed in my entire lifetime, a benchmark of excellence in a major tournament against a top European opponent like the Netherlands in the Euros.
Looking back, it’s hard to find rivals for that accolade in England’s footballing history.
While the past holds glimpses of brilliance, like the agonisingly close 1990 World Cup semi-final against Germany and the battling performance against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup (both ending in penalty heartbreak), and even the stunning 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich in 2001 (a World Cup qualifier, not a major tournament finals game), they don’t quite capture the same magic of that Euro 96 night against the Netherlands.
It’s arguably only since Gareth Southgate’s era that England has consistently delivered on the big tournament stage. Think of the dramatic penalty shootout win against Colombia in the 2018 World Cup, the victories against Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark on the path to the Euro 2020 final, and the comfortable progress through group stages in the 2022 World Cup. Even recent nervy wins against Slovakia and Switzerland demonstrate a newfound resilience.
However, for a single, dominant, breathtaking performance, nothing quite matches the heights we scaled on Tuesday, June 18, 1996. That evening, we embodied everything our manager Terry Venables had instilled in us, proving to ourselves and the nation just how good we could be.
Alan Shearer Euro 96 goal celebration against Netherlands, Wembley. England vs Netherlands Euros iconic moment.
The enduring legacy of that England vs Netherlands Euro 96 game is no accident. It’s not just nostalgia inflating its importance over time. Even in the moment, as we walked off the Wembley pitch, 4-0 up against the Netherlands with a significant portion of the game still to play, there was a palpable sense of history being made, a truly incredible event unfolding.
It was one of those rare occasions, especially in international football and particularly for England, where everything clicked perfectly. Tactics, individual brilliance, team spirit, and the roar of the Wembley crowd all combined to create something truly special against the Netherlands in the Euros.
Growing up, Dutch football held a certain mystique. The legendary Johan Cruyff and the “Total Football” philosophy of the 1970s defined an era. Then came the iconic Dutch team that triumphed at Euro 1988, boasting the likes of Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten at their peak.
By the mid-90s, a new wave of Dutch talent was emerging, largely from the famed Ajax academy. I was fortunate enough to witness Ajax defeat the legendary AC Milan in the 1995 Champions League final in Vienna. That young Ajax side, featuring Edwin van der Sar, the De Boer twins, Michael Reiziger, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, and Patrick Kluivert, was a revelation. Their speed, skill, and intricate one and two-touch passing were unlike anything we’d seen before.
So, when England drew the Netherlands in the same group for Euro 96, many predicted we were battling for second place. England had endured a difficult period, failing to progress from the group stage at Euro 92 and, more painfully, not even qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. As Euro 96 hosts, the pressure was immense, especially after two years of preparation that hadn’t exactly set the world alight. Personally, I had gone through a frustrating 12-game goal drought for England leading up to the tournament.
One crucial element in our preparation was Terry Venables’ tactical flexibility. Even in the months leading up to Euro 96, he emphasized using different systems and formations. We practiced switching from a 4-4-2 to a back three, a midfield diamond, or even the “Christmas tree” 4-3-2-1 formation.
On paper, our formation against the Netherlands appeared to be a standard 4-4-2: David Seaman in goal; Gary Neville, Gareth Southgate, Tony Adams, and Stuart Pearce in defense; Steve McManaman, Gazza, Paul Ince, and Darren Anderton in midfield; and Teddy Sheringham and myself up front.
England Euro 96 team line up vs Netherlands at Wembley stadium. Key players: Shearer, Sheringham, Gazza, Ince.
However, it was far more dynamic than a rigid 4-4-2. Venables’ tactical approach instilled fluidity. Gary Neville or Gareth Southgate would step into midfield, McManaman pushed higher on the right, Darren Anderton tucked inside, and Teddy Sheringham expertly alternated between playing alongside me and dropping into space behind. This constant movement and tactical adaptability were central to Venables’ master plan for dismantling the Netherlands in the Euros.
Instead of being intimidated by the Dutch stars, Terry Venables’ bold strategy was to challenge them at their own game – to out-Dutch the Dutch. It was a brave decision, especially considering the group dynamics. In those days, only the top two teams advanced to the knockout stages. Losing to the Netherlands that night would have severely jeopardized our qualification, a devastating prospect for a home tournament.
The pressure was immense, but we thrived under it.
Watching the game back years later for a BBC documentary, it was reassuring to see that my memories weren’t exaggerated. The Dutch were indeed as skillful and quick in possession as I remembered.
But we drew first blood with a penalty, which I converted. Two moments stand out from that penalty. First, the incredible skill by Incey (Paul Ince) to draw the foul from Danny Blind – Incey was truly exceptional throughout Euro 96.
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
Secondly, as I stepped up to take the penalty, I remember seeing Edwin van der Sar in goal and thinking, “He looks enormous in that net. I have to be precise, side-netting is the only option. If I don’t get this perfect and he guesses right, he’ll save it.”
The relief when it hit the back of the net was immense. It was my third goal of the tournament, ending that long barren spell, and my confidence soared. That confidence permeated the entire team, a palpable shift in belief against the Netherlands in the Euros.
The second half is where the magic truly unfolded. Teddy Sheringham’s header from a corner made it 2-0, setting the stage for a period of dominance and sheer footballing brilliance that every player dreams of experiencing.
My second goal, the one I described at the beginning, encapsulates that magic. I was screaming for the pass, although part of me expected Teddy to shoot himself given his excellent position. But with incredible vision and unselfishness, he feigned a shot and laid it off to me. I just unleashed a shot, hitting it as purely as I could. The curve, the power, bending away from Van der Sar and into the top corner – it remains one of the sweetest strikes of my career.
⏳⏪ 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 myself as forwards.
In our opening Euro 96 game against Switzerland, a similar situation arose where I had the opportunity to pass to Teddy for a tap-in. But, eager to break my scoring drought, I took the shot myself, and thankfully, it went in. Teddy, in that moment against the Netherlands, might not have even seen or heard me despite my raised arms and shouts. But Teddy possessed this innate spatial awareness, always knowing where his teammates were. He was such an intelligent and selfless player, and I was genuinely delighted when he scored his second goal, making it 4-0. Incredible.
Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham celebrate Shearer's goal against Netherlands Euro 96. Teamwork and partnership in England's victory.
Terry Venables substituted both of us shortly after, a decision I wasn’t thrilled about at the time. While Terry was rightly thinking ahead to the knockout stages and managing our fitness, as a striker on a hat-trick and in such form, I was naturally chasing the Golden Boot. However, on a night like that, personal ambitions had to take a backseat to the team’s success. It was ultimately the right decision for the bigger picture.
Watching the final minutes from the bench, the Wembley atmosphere was electric. Having played for England for four years, I had never experienced anything like those few days. The victory over Scotland on Saturday, followed by this demolition of the Netherlands, took the national mood to another level. “Football’s coming home” became more than just a song; it felt like a genuine belief.
The euphoria continued in the dressing room and later in the hotel bar, where we celebrated with drinks and singing. We all knew we had been part of something truly special that night against the Netherlands in the Euros.
Euro 96 England vs Netherlands 4-1 scoreline at Wembley. Historic victory and dominant performance.
Expectations were relatively low at the start of Euro 96, but after thrashing the Netherlands 4-1, a new sense of possibility emerged. We started to believe, “We actually have a chance here.”
The next day, venturing out for a haircut in Burnham, the nearby town, the atmosphere was still buzzing. A street party was underway, people still celebrating our win against the Netherlands. I had never witnessed anything like it. We were riding a wave of national euphoria. The question was, how far could it take us in Euro 96?
It propelled us past Spain in the quarter-finals (albeit on penalties and narrowly) and all the way to the semi-finals against Germany, another agonizing penalty shootout defeat. We were agonizingly close to the final. The “what ifs” still linger: Gazza’s desperate lunge, inches away from connecting with my cross for a Golden Goal winner in extra time, Gareth Southgate’s penalty save. So, so close.
Ultimately, we fell short. That Euro 96 team reached a semi-final but never a final. Football is a game of fine margins, and for too long, England seemed to fall on the wrong side of them.
England team at Euro 2024, aiming for success in current Euros. Contrast with Euro 96 team and legacy.
This current England team is different. They consistently find themselves on the right side of those tight margins. While their performances in the current Euros might not have reached peak levels yet, they are effective and resilient. Despite some criticism of their style, there’s an undeniable admirable quality in their determination and ability to get the job done. Under Gareth Southgate, England has become a force in tournament football.
Wouldn’t it be incredible to see England replicate that Euro 96 performance against the Dutch in a future encounter? Imagine Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka igniting the magic, Harry Kane firing in a couple of goals. That’s the dream for fans and surely for Gareth Southgate too.
Perhaps it’s a high bar to reach immediately. Realistically, future matches might be tighter, more tactical affairs.
Unless the performance level elevates, I might find myself expressing my frustrations again from the commentary box. England hasn’t played with that same free-flowing attacking verve in recent tournaments, and it’s uncertain if that will dramatically change in high-stakes semi-finals or beyond.
That’s what made that Euro 96 night against the Netherlands so extraordinary. 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 game at the old Wembley.
It was a performance so captivating that people still approach me to talk about it, recalling the brilliance of our play and the emotions it evoked. Sadly, we didn’t lift the trophy that summer.
Even if the current team’s performances haven’t yet reached those heights in this European Championship, I sincerely hope Gareth Southgate and his players can go one or two steps further and ultimately achieve what we couldn’t – bring the trophy home.
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England 4-1 Netherlands at Euro 96: Three Lions’ greatest win in tournament?](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2646949/2021/06/21/england-netherlands-euro-96-shearer-sheringham/)
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
