Whenever I’m asked about my most cherished memories playing for England, two moments instantly come to mind: being named captain, and that unforgettable night we demolished the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley during Euro 96. The sheer exhilaration of that Holland Euro Cup match still resonates deeply, even decades later.
It’s always the first thing I recall when major tournaments like Euro 2024 approach and the semi-final lineups are set. My mind flashes back to that penalty area at Wembley, witnessing Paul Gascoigne weave through the Dutch defense before laying it off to Teddy Sheringham. I can almost feel myself raising my arms, urging Teddy to pass, and then unleashing that strike that nestled perfectly into the top corner. The eruption of celebration that followed, shared with players, staff, and fans alike, was pure dreamland. It was more than just a victory; it was a statement during that Holland Euro Cup.
To simply call it the best team performance of my England career, which spanned from 1992 to 2000, would be an understatement. In fact, I’d argue it was the best England performance I’ve witnessed in my entire lifetime. This Holland Euro Cup game transcended just winning; it was about dominating.
To be honest, there aren’t many other England displays that come close to that level of brilliance.
The 70s and 80s were a barren period for the national team. The 1990 World Cup offered a glimmer of hope with that agonizing semi-final loss to Germany on penalties – a fate that repeated itself at Euro 96. We battled hard against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, only to be defeated by penalties again. The 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich in 2001 was incredible, but it was a World Cup qualifier, not quite the same stage as a Holland Euro Cup encounter in a major tournament.
It’s really only since Gareth Southgate took charge that we’ve seen England consistently perform in big tournament games. Think of the dramatic penalty shootout win against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup, the victories over Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark on our path to the Euro 2020 final, and the comfortable wins against Iran, Wales, and Senegal at the 2022 World Cup. Even recent nervy wins against Slovakia and Switzerland demonstrate a newfound resilience.
However, when it comes to a single, complete performance, nothing matches the heights we reached on Tuesday, June 18, 1996, against Holland. That night, we embodied everything our manager Terry Venables believed we could be during that Holland Euro Cup.
Shearer celebrates scoring against the Netherlands on a magical night
Alt text: Alan Shearer, England striker, passionately celebrates his goal against the Netherlands during the Euro 96 match at Wembley, arms raised in triumph, capturing the euphoria of the Holland Euro Cup moment.
There’s a reason why fans and players alike still talk about this game 28 years later. It’s not a memory that’s been inflated by time; the magnitude of that Holland Euro Cup victory was evident even as it unfolded. Even as we walked off the pitch, 4-0 up with plenty of time remaining, it felt like we had been part of something truly extraordinary.
It was one of those rare matches, especially in international football and particularly for England, where everything just clicked perfectly. The Holland Euro Cup atmosphere that night was electric.
Growing up, Dutch football held a certain mystique. Johan Cruyff and the “Total Football” teams of the 1970s were legendary. Then came the great Dutch team that won Euro 1988, featuring icons like Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten in their prime. Their legacy loomed large as we approached our Holland Euro Cup fixture.
By the mid-90s, a thrilling new wave of Dutch talent emerged, largely from the renowned Ajax academy. I was fortunate enough to witness Ajax, as a guest of Umbro, defeat a legendary AC Milan side in the 1995 Champions League final in Vienna. That young Ajax team boasted incredible players like Edwin van der Sar, the De Boer twins, Michael Reiziger, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, and Patrick Kluivert. Their speed, skill, and one-touch, two-touch passing were unlike anything we’d seen before. This was the pedigree of the Holland team we were facing in the Euro Cup.
When we were drawn in the same group as them for Euro 96, many predicted we were fighting for second place. England had endured a difficult period: group stage exit at Euro 92, failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. As hosts, we had spent two years preparing for Euro 96 without truly igniting excitement. Personally, I’d gone 12 games without scoring for England leading up to the tournament. Facing this Dutch side in the Holland Euro Cup was a daunting prospect.
One thing I clearly remember is Terry Venables’ tactical flexibility in the build-up to Euro 96. He emphasized using different systems and setups throughout the tournament. We might start in a 4-4-2, but he constantly drilled us on switching to various formations, including a back three, a midfield diamond, or the “Christmas tree” 4-3-2-1. This adaptability was key to our Holland Euro Cup strategy.
On paper, our formation against the Dutch appeared to be a 4-4-2: Seaman in goal; Neville, Southgate, Adams, and Pearce in defense; McManaman, Gascoigne, Ince, and Anderton in midfield; Sheringham and myself upfront. This was the team sheet that faced Holland in the Euro Cup.
England line-up vs Netherlands Euro 96
Alt text: England’s starting lineup graphic against the Netherlands for the Euro 96 match, showcasing player positions and names, highlighting the tactical setup for this crucial Holland Euro Cup fixture.
However, it was far more dynamic than a rigid 4-4-2. Venables’ coaching meant we were constantly in motion. Gary Neville or Gareth Southgate would step into midfield, McManaman would push high on the right, and Anderton would drift inside. Teddy Sheringham was brilliant at knowing when to play alongside me and when to drop into space behind. It was a fluid, interconnected system, all part of Terry’s masterful game plan for that Holland Euro Cup clash.
Instead of focusing solely on containing the Dutch stars, Terry’s bold approach was to challenge them at their own game. It was a brave decision, particularly given the group dynamics. Only the top two teams advanced to the knockout stages back then. Losing to the Netherlands in that Holland Euro Cup match could have meant elimination, a devastating outcome for our home tournament since 1966.
The pressure was immense. The Holland Euro Cup stakes couldn’t have been higher.
I rewatched the game a few years ago for a BBC documentary. It was the first time I’d seen it in its entirety in a long time. It confirmed my memory of the Dutch team; they were as technically gifted and quick in possession as I recalled. Their reputation in that Holland Euro Cup was well-deserved.
But we struck first with a penalty, which I converted. Two things stand out in my memory from that moment. First, Paul Ince’s incredible skill to win the penalty, drawing the foul from Danny Blind. Incey was a phenomenal player, especially during Euro 96. That piece of magic set the stage for our Holland Euro Cup breakthrough.
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 massive in that net. I have to place this perfectly into the side-netting because if I don’t, and he guesses right, he’ll save it.” The pressure of that Holland Euro Cup penalty was immense.
The relief when it hit the back of the net was immense. It was my third goal of the tournament, after that frustrating goal drought for England, and suddenly, my confidence soared. I could sense that confidence spreading throughout the entire team during that Holland Euro Cup match.
The second half is where the magic truly unfolded. Teddy doubled our lead with a header from a corner, setting the stage for a period of dominance and brilliance that every footballer dreams of. This Holland Euro Cup game was reaching its peak.
My second goal, the third for England, is one I particularly cherish. As I mentioned earlier, I was screaming for the pass, although I half-expected Teddy to shoot himself given his excellent position. He feigned a shot but instead, unselfishly squared it to me. I just put my head down and struck the ball with everything I had. It was one of the sweetest strikes of my career, bending away from Van der Sar and into the top corner. A perfect moment in that Holland Euro Cup game.
⏳⏪ The last time @England met the Netherlands in a major tournament…@alanshearer ⚽️🙋♂️#FlashbackFriday pic.twitter.com/buFetiieqy
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) May 31, 2019
This moment highlights the difference between Teddy and me as forwards.
In our opening game against Switzerland, a similar situation arose where I had the chance to pass to Teddy for a tap-in across the six-yard box. Knowing my desperation to break my scoring drought, Teddy probably wasn’t surprised when I took the shot myself, which thankfully went in. My hunger to score was immense, especially in a major tournament like the Holland Euro Cup.
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Then, in that Holland Euro Cup match, when Teddy had the ball, I honestly wasn’t sure if he’d seen or heard me, despite my raised arms and shouts. But Teddy always had a complete picture of player positions in his mind. He was such an intelligent and selfless player. I was thrilled when he scored his second goal, making it 4-0. Incredible teamwork in that Holland Euro Cup game.
Shearer celebrates with Sheringham after getting his goal
Alt text: Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham, England’s striking partnership, celebrate Shearer’s goal against the Netherlands at Euro 96, Sheringham jumping onto Shearer’s back in joyful camaraderie, a defining image of the Holland Euro Cup victory.
Terry substituted both of us shortly after, which, as a striker chasing a hat-trick, I wasn’t initially happy about. However, Terry was rightly thinking ahead to the knockout stages, preserving our fitness. But in that moment, I was thinking, “Wait, I’m on a hat-trick! I’m in form! I want the Golden Boot!” Still, on a night like that, it was impossible to be truly annoyed. It was the right decision for the team’s Holland Euro Cup campaign.
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Watching the game’s final stages from the bench, the Wembley atmosphere was deafening. Having played for England for four years, I had never experienced anything like those few days. First, the victory over Scotland on Saturday, and now this Holland Euro Cup demolition of the Netherlands, took the euphoria to another level. “Football’s coming home” felt more than just a song; it felt like a real possibility during this Holland Euro Cup.
The atmosphere continued in the dressing room and back at the hotel bar afterward. We celebrated with a few drinks and a singalong. We knew we had been part of something truly special that Holland Euro Cup night.
A scoreline for the ages at Wembley
Alt text: The iconic 4-1 scoreline displayed on the Wembley scoreboard after England’s dominant victory over the Netherlands in Euro 96, a testament to their Holland Euro Cup triumph.
Expectations weren’t high entering the tournament, but after thrashing Holland 4-1 in this Holland Euro Cup match, we started to believe, “We might actually have a chance here.”
The next day, I remember going for a haircut in Burnham. Stepping out of the taxi, I found myself in the middle of a street party. People were still celebrating what we had achieved the night before. I had never witnessed anything like it. We were riding a wave of national euphoria generated by that Holland Euro Cup win. How far could it carry us?
It took us past Spain in the quarter-finals – on penalties, and just barely, to be honest. It took us to extra time and penalties against Germany in the semi-finals. We were agonizingly close to the final. We can all recall the “what ifs”: Gazza’s agonizingly close attempt to connect with my cross for a Golden Goal winner in extra time, Gareth Southgate’s heartbreaking penalty miss in the shootout. So, so close to Euro final glory after that Holland Euro Cup high.
But we fell short. That England team reached one semi-final but never a final. Sport often comes down to fine margins, and for years, England seemed to be on the wrong side of them, be it penalty shootouts or other misfortunes. The Holland Euro Cup victory, while magnificent, didn’t translate into ultimate tournament success.
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This current England team is different. They consistently find themselves on the right side of those fine margins. While they haven’t fully clicked in this tournament, they keep getting the job done. I’ve been critical of some performances, but there’s an admirable resilience in their approach. Under Gareth Southgate, we’ve become a team adept at tournament football, a stark contrast to pre-Holland Euro Cup ’96 England.
It would be incredible to see England replicate the 1996 performance against the Dutch tonight (Wednesday). Imagine Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka conjuring magic, Harry Kane scoring a couple of goals. That’s the dream for all of us, including Gareth Southgate. A new Holland Euro Cup style performance would be welcomed.
England are yet to click at Euro 2024 — but they’re in the semi-finals
Alt text: The England team at Euro 2024, pictured during a match, signifying their progress to the semi-finals despite not yet reaching peak performance, a hopeful nod towards replicating the Euro 96 Holland Euro Cup brilliance.
However, realistically, I don’t foresee a high-scoring game. It might be another tense, drawn-out night. The current team needs to channel the spirit of that Holland Euro Cup game.
Unless their performance level improves, I might find myself expressing my frustrations in the commentary box, as I have in recent weeks. England haven’t played free-flowing football in this tournament, and a dramatic shift in a semi-final with such high stakes seems unlikely. The current team needs to unlock the attacking flair of that Holland Euro Cup era.
That’s what made 1996 so remarkable. We knew we had talented players and strong personalities, but I don’t think even we fully grasped how good we could be together, wearing the England shirt, until that night at the old Wembley. The Holland Euro Cup game revealed our true potential.
It was a performance so exceptional that people still approach me to discuss it – recounting how well we played and how it made them feel. Sadly, we didn’t lift the trophy that summer despite the Holland Euro Cup triumph.
Even if their performances haven’t yet reached those heights at this European Championship, I sincerely hope Gareth Southgate and his players can go one or two steps further and finally bring it home. Perhaps inspired by the memory of that Holland Euro Cup victory.
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