Des Lynam ended the BBC’s coverage of that European Championship semi-final between England and Germany on Wednesday, 26 June 1996, by telling viewers: “You better remember where you were watching this tonight, because in 30 years’ time, someone will probably ask you.” So, 30 years on, the Guardian asked six writers if they really do remember where and how they watched the game. It’s fair to say it was an emotional trip down memory lane…
‘I will never forget the trudge back to the tube’
I still have the match ticket and the pink underground ticket that says “Wembley Park.” We were sitting on the side above the right corner at the end where Gazza missed in extra time and during the penalties. I can still see and feel it all: the joy of Shearer’s goal and the (justified) fear that it came too early; the equaliser; the agonising misses, including a run from McManaman that’s often forgotten; the German “golden goal” that was ruled out at the other end for a foul that maybe only the referee could see; thinking even after Southgate’s miss that it wasn’t over. But I will never forget the moment right at the end of the near-silent walk back to the tube when I finally decided to speak. Trying to find something positive, I said: “At least no one will assume we’re just going to win the World Cup now,” and an angry man nearby, who sadly looked like a stereotypical England fan, responded as if I had insulted Princess Diana. PC
‘He probably wanted to avoid a teenage riot’
I was 16 and – whisper it – not that into football. Music had taken over my life… Parklife. But this was a game that simply had to be watched, and it’s perfect for one between England and Germany – I was in France. Our school took us on a camping holiday in Brittany after our GCSEs, turning a blind eye to any underage drinking that may or may not have happened. The owner of the place where we watched the match claimed the TV had broken during extra time; in reality, he probably wanted to avoid a teenage riot if England lost. That meant we followed the end of the game via a transistor radio back at the campsite, with a teacher translating the penalty shootout. I never did learn the French for “Southgate.” AB
View image in fullscreen
England line up at Wembley before their Euro 96 semi-final with Germany. Expectations were high… sadly it would prove to be their final game at the tournament. Photograph: Stu Forster/Shutterstock
‘He suggested attacking the embassy’
A large hotel bar in Booterstown, Dublin, where I was working for the summer before starting university. An English colleague drunkenly suggested attacking the German embassy after the penalty shootout. Worryingly, I think he was serious. Equally worryingly – at least, had he not been ignorant of the fact – the embassy was just a stone’s throw away. England supporters and large amounts of alcohol is never a good mix. Naturally, our Irish friends weren’t exactly unhappy to see England out, but their wait for the usual schadenfreude had lasted longer than normal. LM
‘What about Ince, Anderton or McManaman?’
I had just started in football journalism but was nowhere near getting a pass for Wembley. So instead, I was at a flat in west London. There were 10 of us. Some of us had watched the Italia 90 semi-final together. So, shared experiences. Shared fears. Lots of chat throughout the game, but a nervous, curious hush when Gareth walked up. Why him? What about Ince, Anderton or McManaman? Surely one of them should take it. The miss; the collective groan and disappointment. The long, sad walk home. Don’t worry – we’ll win the next shootout… won’t we? CL
‘I couldn’t watch the match with her’
My then girlfriend and now wife, Barbara, was (and still is) German, so I obviously couldn’t watch the match with her. I left her at our student house – kept company by her future mother-in-law, who was up for my university graduation the next day – andI walked up the long hill to the college bar to watch what felt like an inevitable disaster unfold. Shearer, Kuntz, Gazza, Gareth… there’s no point going over the details. The walk back down that hill felt even longer, and I was met by my partner’s sympathetic hug, which helped suppress my guilty pleasure in others’ misfortune. But nine years later, June 26 took on a completely different meaning in our home when our daughter was born. Today she turns 21. Happy birthday, Isabel.
[View image in fullscreen: Terry Venables and his assistant Don Howe console Gareth Southgate after his penalty miss. The defender would do the same with Bukayo Saka at Wembley, 25 years later. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy]
‘It was one of the best times of my life’
My story isn’t all that interesting – I was 15 and watched the game at home after spending a couple of hours revising for my GCSE mocks. But on a bigger scale, that night marked the end of one of the best periods of my life. I grew up in Wembley, and being there in the summer of 1996 felt like being at the center of the football universe. I was also a big England fan, right before my relationship with the national team got complicated and difficult. I went to the Scotland game, celebrated Gazza’s goal wildly, and really wanted us to win the tournament. But we didn’t, because of what happened on June 26. It hurt at the time, but now I only look back on that night and that era with fondness. Don’t worry, Des, I remember it well. SN
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the England vs Germany semifinal at Euro 96 30 years on
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What was Euro 96
A It was the 1996 European Football Championship hosted by England Its famous for football coming home and a huge resurgence of popularity for the sport in England
Q Who played in the semifinal and who won
A England played against Germany Germany won the match on penalties after a 11 draw
Q Why is this specific game still talked about 30 years later
A Because it was a heartbreaking dramatic loss for England on home soil The match is also famous for the iconic image of Gareth Southgate missing the crucial penalty and for the phrase Footballs Coming Home
Q What does where you were watching mean in the title
A Its a common saying for big sporting moments Everyone remembers exactly where they were and who they were with when that final penalty was missed making it a shared painful national memory
IntermediateLevel Questions
Q What was the specific score of the match
A The score was 11 after extra time Germany won the penalty shootout 65
Q Who scored the goals in the match
A For England Alan Shearer scored in the 3rd minute For Germany Stefan Kuntz equalized in the 16th minute
Q Why is Footballs Coming Home associated with this game
A That was the chorus of the official England song for Euro 96 It expressed the hope that football would return to its birthplace by winning the trophy The loss made the song bittersweet
Q What happened with the penalty shootout
A Englands sixth penalty taker Gareth Southgate had his weak shot saved by German goalkeeper Andreas Kpke Germanys Andreas Mller then scored his penalty to win the match
Advanced Specific Questions
Q Was there any controversy about the England goal or a disallowed Germany goal
