Whenever discussions arise about the pinnacle moments of my England career playing for the national team, two memories instantly spring to mind. The immense honor of being named captain is one, but equally vivid is the night we emphatically defeated the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley during Euro 96. This game, a true highlight of the Holland Euros tournament for England fans, remains etched in my memory as an extraordinary display of football.
As the Euro 2024 semi-final lineups were confirmed, my thoughts drifted back to that electric night. I can almost feel myself back in that Wembley penalty area, watching Paul Gascoigne weave through the Dutch defense, setting up Teddy Sheringham. My arms are raised, urging Teddy to pass, and then the sheer exhilaration of striking the ball into the top corner, the celebrations erupting – players, staff, and fans united in a dreamlike state.
To simply call it my best team performance for England, spanning my international career from 1992 to 2000, would be an understatement. In my view, it wasn’t just the best England performance of my career; it stands as the greatest England performance I have witnessed in my lifetime, especially when considering the context of the Holland Euros campaign.
To be frank, there aren’t many other contenders for that title.
The 1970s and 1980s were largely barren years for the England national team. The 1990 World Cup provided a glimmer of hope with that agonizing semi-final loss to Germany on penalties – a fate that repeated itself at Euro 96. We battled valiantly against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, only to be defeated on penalties once more. The 5-1 triumph over Germany in Munich in 2001 was unforgettable, but as a World Cup qualifier, it lacks the same tournament significance as a Holland Euros match.
It’s only since Gareth Southgate’s tenure that England has consistently performed on the big tournament stage: the dramatic penalty shootout victory against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup, defeating Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark en route to the Euro 2020 final, comfortable wins over Iran, Wales, and Senegal at the 2022 World Cup, and the recent hard-fought victories over Slovakia and Switzerland.
However, when it comes to a single, dominant performance, nothing compares to what we achieved on Tuesday, June 18, 1996. That night, we embodied everything our manager Terry Venables believed we could be, especially against a formidable opponent like Holland in the Holland Euros.
Image alt text: Alan Shearer’s iconic celebration after scoring against the Netherlands in Euro 96, a defining moment in Holland Euros history.
There’s a reason why fans and pundits alike still discuss this game 28 years later. It’s not a memory inflated by nostalgia; even as we walked off the pitch, 4-0 up with a significant portion of the match remaining, there was a palpable sense of witnessing something extraordinary during this Holland Euros encounter.
It was one of those rare football matches – particularly rare for England in a major tournament – where every element clicked into place.
Growing up, Dutch football was shrouded in mystique. The legendary Johan Cruyff and the “Total Football” philosophy of the 1970s teams were iconic. Then came the exceptional team that clinched Euro 1988, featuring Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten at their peak. This legacy made the prospect of facing Holland in the Holland Euros even more significant.
By the mid-1990s, a new wave of Dutch talent was emerging, largely from the renowned Ajax academy. I recall being in Vienna as a guest of Umbro, witnessing Ajax defeat the legendary AC Milan in the 1995 Champions League final. That young Ajax team, boasting 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’d seen before, adding to the anticipation of facing them in the Holland Euros.
When the Euro 96 draw placed us in the same group as them, many predicted we were competing for second place. England had endured a difficult period: eliminated in the group stage at Euro 92, failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, and, despite being Euro 96 hosts, our performances in the two years leading up were underwhelming. I’ve previously mentioned my personal drought of 12 games without scoring for England before that tournament, making the Holland Euros even more crucial for personal and national redemption.
One vivid memory from the months leading up to Euro 96 was Terry Venables’ tactical preparation. He emphasized using various systems and formations throughout the tournament. We practiced transitioning from a 4-4-2 to a back three, a midfield diamond, or a 4-3-2-1 “Christmas tree” formation. This tactical flexibility was key to our approach, particularly for challenging teams like Holland in the Holland Euros.
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 in defense; Steve McManaman, Gazza, Paul Ince, and Darren Anderton in midfield; and Teddy Sheringham and myself upfront. This lineup was specifically designed to counter the Dutch style in the Holland Euros.
Image alt text: England’s starting lineup against the Netherlands at Euro 96, showcasing the tactical setup for this crucial Holland Euros match.
However, Terry’s strategy was far more dynamic. At times, Gary Neville or Gareth Southgate would step into midfield, McManaman would push high on the right, and Anderton would drift inside. Teddy Sheringham intuitively knew when to play alongside me and when to drop into the space behind. This fluidity and movement were central to Terry’s master plan for the Holland Euros, especially against a technically gifted team like the Netherlands.
Instead of focusing solely on neutralizing the Dutch stars, Terry’s bold strategy was to challenge them at their own game. It was a risky approach, especially considering the group dynamics. In those days, 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 Holland Euros tournament since 1966.
The pressure was immense.
I re-watched the game a few years ago for a BBC documentary. It was the first time I had seen it in its entirety for a long time. It was reassuring to see that the Dutch were indeed as skillful and quick in possession as I remembered. Their reputation in the Holland Euros was well-deserved.
But we drew first blood with a penalty, which I converted. Two things stand out in my memory from that moment. First, Paul Ince’s brilliant skill that drew the foul from Danny Blind; Incey was exceptional throughout that tournament. His performance in the Holland Euros, particularly against Holland, was crucial.
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 walked up to take the penalty, I remember seeing 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 correctly, he’s going to save it.” The pressure of the Holland Euros penalty was intense.
The relief when the ball hit the back of the net was immense. It was my third goal of the tournament, after that long goal drought, and my confidence surged. I could sense the growing confidence throughout the entire team as we progressed in the Holland Euros.
The second half is where the magic truly unfolded. Teddy Sheringham extended our lead to 2-0 with a header from a corner, setting the stage for a period of dominance and brilliance that every footballer dreams of. This period of the Holland Euros match was unforgettable.
My second goal, our third of the night, is one I particularly cherish. I was practically screaming for the pass, though I half-expected Teddy to shoot himself, given his excellent position. He feigned a shot but instead laid it off to me. I just focused on connecting cleanly and powerfully with the ball. It was one of the purest strikes I’ve ever made, curving away from Van der Sar and into the top corner. This goal against Holland in the Holland Euros is a career highlight.
⏳⏪ 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 contrast between Teddy and me as players.
In our opening game against Switzerland in the Holland Euros group stage, I had a similar opportunity to pass the ball across the six-yard box for Teddy to tap in. Knowing my desperation to score after my drought, Teddy probably wasn’t surprised when I took the shot myself, which thankfully went in.
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Then, in that moment against Holland, even though I was gesturing and shouting for the ball, I wasn’t sure Teddy had even seen or heard me. But Teddy always had a remarkable awareness of his teammates’ positions. He was an exceptionally intelligent and selfless player, and I was thrilled when he scored his second goal, making it 4-0. An incredible scoreline in such a crucial Holland Euros match.
Image alt text: Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham celebrating Shearer’s goal against Holland, a partnership that shone brightly in the Holland Euros.
Terry Venables substituted both of us shortly after, and I remember being slightly annoyed. Terry was wisely thinking ahead to the knockout stages and keeping us fresh, but as a striker, my mind was on a hat-trick and the Golden Boot. However, on a night like that, it was hard to stay upset. It was undoubtedly the right decision for the team’s overall Holland Euros campaign.
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Watching the final minutes from the bench, the atmosphere was electric. 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 – it was another level. “Football’s coming home” and all that. The Holland Euros fever was gripping the nation.
The atmosphere carried into the dressing room and the hotel bar afterwards, where we celebrated with a few drinks and some singing. We knew we had been part of something truly special that night, a night that would be remembered in Holland Euros history.
Image alt text: The Euro 96 Wembley scoreboard displaying the historic 4-1 victory for England against the Netherlands, a defining moment of the Holland Euros.
Expectations were not high entering the tournament, but after thrashing Holland 4-1, we started to believe, “We might actually have a chance here.” The Holland Euros dream was becoming a reality.
The next day, I remember going for a haircut in Burnham. Stepping out of the taxi, I encountered 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 throughout the Holland Euros. How far could it take us?
It carried us past Spain in the quarter-finals – on penalties and narrowly, if I’m honest – and all the way to extra time and penalties against Germany in the semi-finals. We were agonizingly close to the final. We can reflect on the “what ifs”: Gazza’s desperate lunge, inches away from connecting with my cross for a Golden Goal winner, and Gareth Southgate’s missed penalty in the shootout. So incredibly close to Holland Euros glory.
But we fell short. That team reached one semi-final but never a final. Football is often decided by fine margins, and for years, England seemed to consistently land on the wrong side, whether through penalty shootouts or other misfortunes. The Holland Euros campaign of 96 was a testament to this bittersweet reality.
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This current England team is different. They seem to consistently find themselves on the right side of those fine margins. While their performances at Euro 2024 haven’t been dazzling, they are effective and resilient. Despite my criticisms of some performances, there’s something admirable about their determination. Under Gareth Southgate, England has become adept at tournament football, a stark contrast to previous Holland Euros and major tournaments.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if England could replicate a performance like the Euro 96 victory against Holland tonight? Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka unleashing their magic, Harry Kane scoring a couple of goals. That’s the dream for fans and for Gareth Southgate himself, to see a Holland Euros repeat.
Image alt text: England team at Euro 2024, aiming to emulate the spirit and success of the Euro 96 team that defeated Holland in a memorable match.
However, realistically, I don’t foresee a high-scoring game. It might be another tense and drawn-out affair. The current team might not deliver a Holland Euros spectacle like ’96.
Unless their performance level elevates significantly, I might find myself expressing my frustrations in the commentary box again, as I have in recent weeks. England’s football at this tournament hasn’t been free-flowing, and a dramatic shift in a high-stakes semi-final seems unlikely. It’s a different era from the Holland Euros of 1996.
That’s what was so remarkable about 1996. We knew we possessed talented players and strong personalities, but I don’t think even we fully grasped our collective potential in an England shirt until that unforgettable night at the old Wembley against Holland in the Holland Euros.
It was a performance so exceptional that people still approach me to discuss it – recalling how well we played and the emotions it evoked. Regrettably, we didn’t lift the trophy that summer, failing to capitalize on the momentum from the Holland Euros triumph over Holland.
Despite the current team’s performances not yet reaching the same heights at this European Championship, I sincerely hope Gareth Southgate and his players can surpass our achievements and ultimately bring home the trophy. Perhaps they can create their own Holland Euros moment in this tournament.
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(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
