Whenever I’m asked about my most cherished memories playing for England, two moments instantly come to mind: being named captain, and that electrifying night at Wembley when we dominated the Netherlands 4-1 during Euro 96. That “Dutch Euro Cup” game, as it’s often fondly remembered by fans, wasn’t just a win; it was a statement.
The confirmation of the Euro 2024 semi-final lineup last Saturday immediately transported me back to that iconic match. I can still picture myself in the penalty area, watching Gazza weave through the Dutch defense before setting up Teddy Sheringham. My arms are raised, urging Teddy to pass, and then, pure elation as I strike the ball into the top corner. The celebration that followed – with players, staff, and fans united in euphoria – it was truly dreamlike.
To call it the best team performance of my England career, which spanned from 1992 to 2000, feels like an understatement. In fact, I’d argue it’s the best England performance I’ve witnessed in my entire lifetime, a benchmark in “dutch euro cup” history for England.
To be honest, there aren’t many other contenders that come close. While the 1970s and 1980s weren’t England’s most successful decades, the 1990 World Cup offered a glimmer of hope, albeit ending in penalty heartbreak against Germany, a fate that repeated itself at Euro 96. The 1998 World Cup saw another valiant effort against Argentina, again ending in penalties. And who could forget the stunning 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich in 2001? However, that was a World Cup qualifier, not quite carrying the same weight as a major tournament match in the “dutch euro cup” or similar competitions.
It’s really only since Gareth Southgate’s leadership that England has consistently performed in major tournament knockout games. Think of the dramatic penalty shootout win against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup, the victories over Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark en route 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 showcase a new resilience.
But when it comes to a single, complete performance, nothing quite matches the heights we reached on that Tuesday, June 18, 1996. That “dutch euro cup” night, we embodied everything our manager Terry Venables believed we could be.
Alan Shearer celebrating his goal against the Netherlands in Euro 96, a moment of pure joy and triumph.
There’s a reason why fans and pundits alike still reminisce about this game 28 years later. It’s not a memory inflated by time; even as we walked off the pitch, 4-0 up with plenty of time remaining, there was a palpable sense of witnessing something truly special in this “dutch euro cup” encounter.
It was one of those rare occasions – especially in international football, and particularly for England – where everything clicked perfectly. Tactics, teamwork, individual brilliance, and the fervent support of the Wembley crowd all coalesced into a night of unforgettable football.
Growing up, Dutch football held a certain mystique. The “Total Football” era of Johan Cruyff and the 1970s, followed by the Euro 1988 champions featuring legends like Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten in their prime, painted a picture of Dutch mastery.
By the mid-90s, a new wave of Dutch talent emerged, largely from the famed Ajax academy. I was fortunate 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, boasting names like 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 on the ball, and one- and two-touch passing were unlike anything we had seen before.
When England drew the Netherlands in the same group for Euro 96, many predicted we were fighting for second place. England’s recent tournament history was underwhelming: elimination at the Euro 92 group stage, failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, and a somewhat lackluster two-year build-up to Euro 96 as hosts. Personally, I had endured a 12-game goal drought for England leading up to the tournament.
One crucial aspect of our Euro 96 preparation, vividly etched in my memory, was Terry Venables’ tactical flexibility. Even in the months leading up to the tournament, he emphasized using different systems and formations. We practiced transitioning between a 4-4-2, a back three, a midfield diamond, and even 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 in 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 setup for the historic match.
However, it was far more dynamic. Venables’ coaching instilled fluidity. Gary Neville or Gareth Southgate would step into midfield, McManaman pushed high on the right, and Anderton tucked inside. Teddy Sheringham intelligently alternated between playing alongside me and dropping into a deeper role. This constant movement and tactical adaptability were central to Terry’s master plan for the “dutch euro cup” clash.
Instead of focusing solely on containing the talented Dutch players, 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 could have meant elimination, a devastating blow for a home nation in their first major tournament since 1966.
The pressure was immense.
I recently re-watched the game for a BBC documentary, my first viewing in a long time. It was reassuring to see that the Dutch were indeed as skillful and quick in possession as I remembered.
But we struck first 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, a true driving force.
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 approached the penalty spot, I remember seeing Edwin van der Sar and thinking, “He looks enormous in that goal. I need to place this perfectly in the side-netting, or 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 drought, and my confidence, and the team’s, surged.
The second half is where the magic truly unfolded. Teddy Sheringham’s header from a corner doubled our lead, setting the stage for a period of dominance and brilliance that every footballer dreams of.
My second goal, the third for England, is one I particularly cherish. I was yelling for the pass, though I half-expected Teddy to shoot given his excellent position. He cleverly feigned a shot, then laid it off to me, and I just unleashed a powerful strike. It was one of the cleanest hits of my career, swerving 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
This moment highlights the contrast between Teddy and me as strikers. Earlier in the tournament, against Switzerland, I had a chance to pass to Teddy for a tap-in but opted to shoot myself, eager to break my scoring drought, which thankfully I did.
Then, in this “dutch euro cup” game, when Teddy had the opportunity to shoot, he unselfishly passed to me. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if he even saw or heard me despite my raised arms and shouts. But Teddy possessed incredible spatial awareness and was an exceptionally intelligent and selfless player. I was thrilled when he scored our fourth, making it 4-0. Incredible.
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Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham celebrating Shearer's goal against the Netherlands, a partnership that defined England's attack in Euro 96.
Terry substituted both of us shortly after, a decision I wasn’t initially thrilled about. He was rightly thinking ahead to the knockout stages, keeping us fresh, but as a striker on a hot streak, chasing the Golden Boot, I wanted to stay on. However, on a night like that, it was hard to be truly upset. It was the right decision for the team.
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Watching the game’s 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. First, the victory over Scotland on Saturday, and now this “dutch euro cup” triumph, it was another level. “Football’s coming home” resonated deeply.
The atmosphere continued in the dressing room and at the hotel bar, where we celebrated with drinks and songs. We knew we had been part of something extraordinary that night.
The scoreboard at Wembley reflecting England's dominant 4-1 victory over the Netherlands, a historic moment in English football.
Expectations were modest entering Euro 96, but after thrashing the Dutch 4-1 in this “dutch euro cup” encounter, belief surged. We started to think, “We might actually have a chance here.”
The next day, venturing out for a haircut in Burnham, I was met with street parties still celebrating our victory. The public euphoria was unlike anything I had ever witnessed. We were riding a wave of national support. How far could it take us?
It carried us past Spain in the quarter-finals – narrowly, on penalties – and to the semi-finals against Germany, agonizingly close to the final. We reflect on the “what ifs”: Gazza’s near miss, inches away from connecting with my cross for a Golden Goal winner, and Gareth Southgate’s penalty shootout heartbreak. So close.
But we fell short. That Euro 96 team reached a semi-final but no final. Sport often hinges on fine margins, and for years, England seemed to consistently land on the wrong side.
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This current England team is different. They consistently find themselves on the right side of those fine margins. While their Euro 2024 performances haven’t always been dazzling, they get the job done. Despite some criticism of their style, there’s an admirable resilience in their approach. Under Gareth Southgate, England has become adept at tournament football.
Wouldn’t it be incredible to see England replicate that 1996 performance against the Dutch tonight? Imagine Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka igniting the magic, and Harry Kane adding a couple of goals. That’s the dream, for fans and Gareth alike.
England's squad at Euro 2024, carrying the hopes of a nation as they aim to surpass the achievements of the Euro 96 team.
Realistically, I don’t foresee a high-scoring game. It might be another tense, drawn-out affair. Unless the performance level elevates significantly, I might find myself expressing my frustrations in the commentary box, as I have recently. England’s football at this tournament hasn’t been free-flowing, and a dramatic shift in a semi-final with such high stakes seems unlikely.
That’s what made 1996 so extraordinary. We knew we had talented players and strong characters, but I don’t think even we fully grasped our collective potential in an England shirt until that “dutch euro cup” night at Wembley.
It was a performance so memorable that people still approach me to discuss it – recalling the brilliance of our play and the emotions it evoked. Sadly, we didn’t lift the trophy that summer.
Even if their Euro 2024 journey hasn’t yet reached the same heights of performance as that “dutch euro cup” game, I sincerely hope Gareth and his team can go a step or two further and ultimately achieve what we couldn’t – bringing the trophy home.
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(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
