Whenever I reminisce about my England career, two moments instantly come to mind: being named captain and that unforgettable night at Wembley when we dominated the Netherlands 4-1 during Euro 96. As the Euro 2024 semi-final lineup took shape, my thoughts drifted back to that iconic match. I pictured myself in the box, witnessing Paul Gascoigne’s brilliance, his pass to Teddy Sheringham, my call for the ball, and then unleashing that strike into the top corner. The euphoria of that moment, shared with teammates, staff, and fans, was pure dreamland.
To call it the best team performance of my England career, which spanned from 1992 to 2000, might even be an understatement. I’d argue it was arguably the greatest England performance within my living memory. And honestly, there aren’t many contenders.
While the 70s and 80s weren’t England’s strongest 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. We fought valiantly against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, only to lose on penalties again. The 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich in 2001 was remarkable, but as a World Cup qualifier, it doesn’t quite hold the same weight.
It’s only since Gareth Southgate’s leadership that England has consistently delivered in major tournaments. Think of the dramatic 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, for sheer dominance in a single game, nothing quite matches the heights we reached on that Tuesday, June 18, 1996. That night, we embodied everything our manager Terry Venables believed we could be.
Alan Shearer Euro 96 Goal Celebration vs Netherlands
Shearer’s ecstatic celebration after scoring against the Netherlands in Euro 96, capturing the magic of that Wembley night.
There’s a reason why fans and pundits like myself still discuss it nearly three decades later. This isn’t a memory inflated by time. Even during the match, leading 4-0 with ample time remaining, there was an overwhelming sense of witnessing something truly special.
It was one of those rare occasions in international football, especially for England, where everything clicked into place.
Growing up, Dutch football carried an aura of mystique. The “Total Football” era of Johan Cruyff in the 1970s, followed by the Euro 1988 champions with legends like Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten at their peak, cemented this image.
By the mid-90s, a new wave of Dutch talent emerged, largely from Ajax’s renowned academy. I recall being in Vienna in 1995, courtesy of Umbro, watching Ajax defeat the mighty AC Milan in the Champions League final. That youthful Ajax team, boasting 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 one-touch passing were unprecedented.
When England drew the Netherlands in our Euro 96 group, many predicted we were fighting for second place. England had endured a tough period: eliminated in the Euro 92 group stage, failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, and building up to Euro 96 as hosts without setting the world on fire. Personally, I endured a 12-game goal drought for England leading up to the tournament.
One thing I clearly remember is Terry Venables’ tactical flexibility in the lead-up to Euro 96. He constantly drilled us on different formations – from 4-4-2 to a back three, a midfield diamond, or the 4-3-2-1 “Christmas tree.” He prepared us to adapt.
On paper, our formation against the Netherlands appeared to be a 4-4-2: Seaman in goal; Neville, Southgate, Adams, and Pearce in defense; McManaman, Gascoigne, Ince, and Anderton in midfield; and Sheringham partnering me upfront.
England Euro 96 Lineup vs Netherlands Formation
England’s starting XI formation against the Netherlands at Euro 96, highlighting the tactical fluidity instilled by Terry Venables.
However, it was far more dynamic. Venables’ tactics involved constant movement and positional interchanges. Gary Neville or Gareth Southgate would step into midfield, Steve McManaman would push high, Darren Anderton would drift inside, and Teddy Sheringham would alternate between playing alongside me and dropping into space. It was a fluid system, all part of Terry’s tactical genius.
Instead of focusing on neutralizing the Dutch stars, Terry opted to challenge them at their own game. It was a bold strategy, especially given the group context. Only the top two advanced to the knockout stages then, and a loss to the Netherlands could have meant elimination in our home tournament – an unthinkable outcome in our first major tournament on home soil since 1966.
The pressure was immense.
I recently re-watched the game for a BBC documentary – my first viewing in years. It was reassuring to see that the Dutch were every bit as skillful and quick 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 to draw 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
Secondly, as I approached the penalty spot, Edwin van der Sar seemed enormous in goal. I remember thinking, “I have to place this perfectly into the side-netting, otherwise, he’ll save it if he guesses right.”
The relief when it hit the net was immense. It was my third goal of the tournament, ending that long drought, and my confidence soared. I could sense the team’s belief growing too.
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.
My second goal, the third for England, is a personal favorite. I was screaming for the pass, although I half-expected Teddy to shoot given his excellent position. He feigned a shot, laid it off to me, and I just unleashed a powerful strike. It was one of my sweetest hits, 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
This moment highlights the contrast between Teddy and me as forwards.
Earlier in the tournament, against Switzerland, I had a similar opportunity to pass to Teddy for a tap-in but chose to shoot myself. Given my goal drought, I was desperate to score, which thankfully I did. However, in that Netherlands game, when Teddy had the ball, I wasn’t sure if he even saw or heard me calling, despite my raised arms and shouts. But Teddy always had exceptional awareness of his teammates’ positions. He was an incredibly intelligent and selfless player, and I was thrilled when he scored his second, making it 4-0. Incredible.
Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham Euro 96 Celebration
Shearer celebrating his goal with Sheringham, showcasing the potent strike partnership that dismantled the Netherlands at Euro 96.
Terry substituted both of us shortly after, a decision I wasn’t thrilled about initially. He was rightly thinking ahead to the knockout stages and managing our fitness, but as a striker on a hat-trick and in red-hot form, I wanted more – the Golden Boot was on my mind! But on a night like that, personal ambitions paled in comparison to the team’s achievement. It was the right call for the bigger picture.
Watching the game’s final stages from the bench, the atmosphere was electric. Having played for England for four years, I’d never experienced anything like those few days. First, the victory against Scotland, and then this – it was another level. “Football’s coming home” truly resonated.
The euphoria continued in the dressing room and back at the hotel bar, with celebrations and singalongs. We knew we had been part of something truly special that night.
Euro 96 England vs Netherlands Scoreboard Wembley
The iconic 4-1 scoreline at Wembley during Euro 96, a testament to England’s dominant performance against the Netherlands.
Expectations weren’t high before the tournament, but thrashing the Dutch 4-1 ignited a belief: “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 atmosphere was incredible, like riding a wave. 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, again decided by penalties. We were agonizingly close to the final. The “what ifs” linger: Gazza’s near miss to connect with my cross in extra time, Gareth Southgate’s saved penalty. So close, yet so far.
That Euro 96 team reached a semi-final, but never the final. Sport is often decided by fine margins, and for years, England seemed to be on the wrong side of them.
England Euro 2024 Team Group Celebration
England’s Euro 2024 team celebrating a group stage victory, hoping to emulate and surpass the Euro 96 team’s legacy.
This current England team is different. They consistently find themselves on the right side of those tight margins. While their performances haven’t always been dazzling at Euro 2024, they get the job done. Despite my past criticisms, there’s an admirable resilience in their approach. Under Gareth Southgate, England has become adept at tournament football.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if England could produce a performance reminiscent of 1996 against the Netherlands tonight (Wednesday)? Imagine Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka conjuring magic, Harry Kane finding the net – that’s the dream for fans and Gareth alike.
However, realistically, I don’t foresee a goal fest. It might be another tense, drawn-out affair.
Unless the performance level elevates significantly, I might find myself voicing frustrations in the commentary box again, as I have been in recent weeks. England hasn’t played with free-flowing attacking football at this tournament, and a dramatic shift in a high-stakes semi-final seems unlikely.
That’s what made 1996 so extraordinary. We knew we had talented players and strong personalities, but even we were surprised by how well we clicked as a team in an England shirt that night at Wembley.
It was a performance so impactful that people still approach me to discuss it – recalling the brilliance and the emotions it evoked. Sadly, we didn’t lift the trophy that summer.
Despite the current team’s performances not yet reaching those heights in this European Championship, I sincerely hope Gareth and his players can go one or two steps further and finish the job this time.
A defining image of Alan Shearer from the Euro 96 England vs Netherlands match, encapsulating the enduring legacy of that game.
