UEFA Euro 1996

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1996 UEFA European Football Championship
England '96
UEFA Euro 1996 official logo
Tournament details
Host country Flag of England England
Dates 8 June30 June
Teams 16 
Venue(s) (in 8 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Flag of Germany Germany (3rd title)
Second place Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
Tournament statistics
Matches played 31
Goals scored 64  (2.06 per match)
Attendance 1,276,000  (41,161 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of England Alan Shearer (5 goals)
Best player Flag of Germany Jürgen Klinsmann

The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 96) was hosted by England. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. The tournament's final stages took place between 8 June and 30 June 1996. The slogan of the tournament was "Football Comes Home", as it was the first time the tournament had taken place in England, the land where the game was born. English football and popular culture has since referenced the competition fondly even though the team did not reach the final. The national impact of the competition can be measured by the fact that the song "Three Lions", which became the song the England fans sang when their team played was re-released for the 1998 World Cup containing lyrics referencing Euro 96, such as "Psycho (Stuart Pearce) screaming" replacing "Nobby (1966 team member Nobby Stiles) dancing". The song thus upstaged the tournament's official theme, "We're In This Together" by Simply Red.

Fifteen teams had to go through a qualifying round to reach the final stage. England qualified automatically as hosts of the event. This was the first European Championship to introduce the current format of 16 countries competing in the final tournament. UEFA had made the decision to expand the tournament as in the late 1980s and early 1990s it was far easier for European nations to qualify for the World Cup than their own continental championship; 14 of the 24 teams at the 1982. 1986 and 1990 World Cups had been European, whereas the European Championship finals still involved only eight teams. Since the Taylor Report, England now boasted enough all-seater stadia of sufficient capacity to hold an expanded tournament.

The qualifying round was played throughout 1994 and 1995. There were eight qualifying groups of six teams each, with the exception of group 3, which only had five. The matches were played in a home-and-away basis.

The winner and the runner-up of each group qualified automatically, with the exception of the two worst runners-up. These two teams had to play an additional playoff between them (single match in neutral ground), to determine the 16th team to join all others in the final tournament. This was between Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool which the Dutch won 2-0.

The first round group stage went mainly as most observers would have expected, with almost all the major teams qualifying for the quarter-finals. The only exceptions to this were the failures of Italy (from the "Group of Death" which also had Germany and the Czech Republic in it) and defending champions Denmark. The hosts England, after a draw against Switzerland, defeated arch rivals Scotland and then defeated the Netherlands 4-1 to qualify.

However, the knock-out stages were marked for their generally uninspiring play. Only 9 goals were scored in the 7 matches, with four of the games decided by penalty shoot-outs (three of them without goals). The semi-final between England and Germany ultimately ended in disappointment for the home side, as Germany beat England on penalties.

The final of the tournament was between Germany and the surprise of the tournament – the Czech Republic. In the end, it was a triumph for German striker Oliver Bierhoff, who scored Germany's equaliser in the 2nd half after Patrik Berger's penalty had given the Czechs the lead. As the game went into extra time, it was Bierhoff who scored the Golden Goal (after a mistake from the Czech goalkeeper, and the first Golden Goal in the history of international football) to give Germany another major tournament success.

Although not all the games were sold out, the tournament had the highest aggregate attendance in championship history (1,276,000) and the highest average per game of 41,158 for the revised 16 team format with 31 games. Only Germany had had a higher average attendance in championship history with an average of 56,656 in 1988 but only staged 15 games in an 8 team championship.

Contents

[edit] Qualification

UEFA Euro 1996 finalists.
UEFA Euro 1996 finalists.

The following teams participated in the final tournament:

* Since the break-up of Czechoslovakia. ** Since the break-up of the USSR.

[edit] Venues

[edit] Match officials

Flag of Austria Austria
Flag of Belgium Belgium
Flag of Belarus Belarus
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria
  • Atanas Uzunov
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
Flag of Denmark Denmark
Flag of England England
Flag of France France
Flag of Germany Germany
Flag of Hungary Hungary
Flag of Italy Italy
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands
Flag of Russia Russia
Flag of Scotland Scotland
Flag of Spain Spain
Flag of Sweden Sweden
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland
Flag of Turkey Turkey

[edit] Squads

For a list of all squads that played in the final tournament, see 1996 UEFA European Football Championship squads.

[edit] Results

[edit] First round

Note: All times local (BST/UTC+1).

[edit] Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Flag of England England 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5 7
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands 3 1 1 1 3 4 -1 4
Flag of Scotland Scotland 3 1 1 1 1 2 -1 4
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 3 0 1 2 1 4 -3 1
1996-06-08
15:00
England Flag of England 1 – 1 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 76,567
Referee: Manuel Diaz Vega (Spain)
Shearer Scored after 23 minutes 23' (Report) Türkyilmaz Scored after 84 minutes 84' (pen.)

1996-06-10
16:30
Netherlands Flag of the Netherlands 0 – 0 Flag of Scotland Scotland Villa Park, Birmingham
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Leif Sundell (Sweden)
(Report)

1996-06-13
19:30
Switzerland Flag of Switzerland 0 – 2 Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands Villa Park, Birmingham
Attendance: 37,000
Referee: Atanas Uzunov (Bulgaria)
(Report) Cruyff Scored after 66 minutes 66'
Bergkamp Scored after 79 minutes 79'

1996-06-15
15:00
Scotland Flag of Scotland 0 – 2 Flag of England England Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 76,684
Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)
(Report) Shearer Scored after 53 minutes 53'
Gascoigne Scored after 79 minutes 79'

1996-06-18
19:30
Scotland Flag of Scotland 1 – 0 Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Villa Park, Birmingham
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Václav Krondl (Czech Republic)
McCoist Scored after 36 minutes 36' (Report)

1996-06-18
19:30
Netherlands Flag of the Netherlands 1 – 4 Flag of England England Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 76,798
Referee: Gerd Grabher (Austria)
Kluivert Scored after 78 minutes 78' (Report) Shearer Scored after 23 minutes 23' (pen.) Scored after 57 minutes 57'
Sheringham Scored after 51 minutes 51' Scored after 62 minutes 62'

[edit] Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Flag of France France 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7
Flag of Spain Spain 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria 3 1 1 1 3 4 -1 4
Flag of Romania Romania 3 0 0 3 1 4 -3 0
1996-06-09
14:30
Spain Flag of Spain 1 – 1 Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Piero Ceccarini (Italy)
Alfonso Scored after 74 minutes 74' (Report) Stoichkov Scored after 65 minutes 65' (pen.)

1996-06-10
19:30
Romania Flag of Romania 0 – 1 Flag of France France St James' Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Hellmut Krug (Germany)
(Report) Dugarry Scored after 25 minutes 25'

1996-06-13
16:30
Bulgaria Flag of Bulgaria 1 – 0 Flag of Romania Romania St James' Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 19,107
Referee: Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)
Stoichkov Scored after 3 minutes 3' (Report)

1996-06-15
18:00
France Flag of France 1 – 1 Flag of Spain Spain Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 39,000
Referee: Vadim Zhuk (Belarus)
Djorkaeff Scored after 49 minutes 49' (Report) Caminero Scored after 86 minutes 86'

1996-06-18
16:30
France Flag of France 3 – 1 Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria St James' Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 26,976
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (England)
Blanc Scored after 21 minutes 21'
Penev Scored after 63 minutes 63' (o.g.)
Loko Scored after 90 minutes 90'
(Report) Stoichkov Scored after 69 minutes 69'

1996-06-18
16:30
Romania Flag of Romania 1 – 2 Flag of Spain Spain Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 32,719
Referee: Ahmet Çakar (Turkey)
Răducioiu Scored after 29 minutes 29' (Report) Manjarín Scored after 11 minutes 11'
Amor Scored after 84 minutes 84'

[edit] Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Flag of Germany Germany 3 2 1 0 5 0 +5 7
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 3 1 1 1 5 6 -1 4
Flag of Italy Italy 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
Flag of Russia Russia 3 0 1 2 4 8 -4 1
1996-06-09
17:00
Germany Flag of Germany 2 – 0 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 37,000
Referee: David Elleray (England)
Ziege Scored after 26 minutes 26'
Möller Scored after 32 minutes 32'
(Report)

1996-06-11
16:30
Italy Flag of Italy 2 – 1 Flag of Russia Russia Anfield, Liverpool
Attendance: 35,120
Referee: Leslie Mottram (Scotland)
Casiraghi Scored after 5 minutes 5' Scored after 52 minutes 52' (Report) Tsymbalar Scored after 21 minutes 21'

1996-06-14
19:30
Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic 2 – 1 Flag of Italy Italy Anfield, Liverpool
Attendance: 37,200
Referee: Antonio López Nieto (Spain)
Nedvěd Scored after 4 minutes 4'
Bejbl Scored after 35 minutes 35'
(Report) Chiesa Scored after 18 minutes 18'

1996-06-16
15:00
Russia Flag of Russia 0 – 3 Flag of Germany Germany Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 50,670
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)
(Report) Sammer Scored after 56 minutes 56'
Klinsmann Scored after 77 minutes 77' Scored after 90 minutes 90'

1996-06-19
19:30
Russia Flag of Russia 3 – 3 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Anfield, Liverpool
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden)
Mostovoi Scored after 49 minutes 49'
Tetradze Scored after 54 minutes 54'
Beschastnykh Scored after 85 minutes 85'
(Report) Suchopárek Scored after 5 minutes 5'
Kuka Scored after 19 minutes 19'
Šmicer Scored after 88 minutes 88'

1996-06-19
19:30
Italy Flag of Italy 0 – 0 Flag of Germany Germany Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 53,700
Referee: Guy Goethals (Belgium)
(Report)

[edit] Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Flag of Portugal Portugal 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4 7
Flag of Croatia Croatia 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6
Flag of Denmark Denmark 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
Flag of Turkey Turkey 3 0 0 3 0 5 -5 0
1996-06-09
19:30
Denmark Flag of Denmark 1 – 1 Flag of Portugal Portugal Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
Attendance: 34,993
Referee: Mario van der Ende (Netherlands)
B. Laudrup Scored after 22 minutes 22' (Report) Sá Pinto Scored after 53 minutes 53'

1996-06-11
19:30
Turkey Flag of Turkey 0 – 1 Flag of Croatia Croatia City Ground, Nottingham
Attendance: 22,406
Referee: Serge Muhmenthaler (Switzerland)
(Report) Vlaović Scored after 86 minutes 86'

1996-06-14
16:30
Portugal Flag of Portugal 1 – 0 Flag of Turkey Turkey City Ground, Nottingham
Attendance: 22,670
Referee: Sándor Puhl (Hungary)
Couto Scored after 66 minutes 66' (Report)

1996-06-16
18:00
Croatia Flag of Croatia 3 – 0 Flag of Denmark Denmark Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
Attendance: 33,671
Referee: Marc Batta (France)
Šuker Scored after 53 minutes 53' (pen.) Scored after 90 minutes 90'
Boban Scored after 81 minutes 81'
(Report)

1996-06-19
16:30
Croatia Flag of Croatia 0 – 3 Flag of Portugal Portugal City Ground, Nottingham
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Bernd Heynemann (Germany)
(Report) Figo Scored after 4 minutes 4'
Pinto Scored after 33 minutes 33'
Domingos Scored after 82 minutes 82'

1996-06-19
16:30
Turkey Flag of Turkey 0 – 3 Flag of Denmark Denmark Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
Attendance: 28,671
Referee: Nikolai Levnikov (Russia)
(Report) B. Laudrup Scored after 50 minutes 50' Scored after 84 minutes 84'
Nielsen Scored after 69 minutes 69'

[edit] Knockout stages

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                   
22 June – London        
 Flag of England England (pen.)  0 (4)
26 June – London
 Flag of Spain Spain  0 (2)  
 Flag of England England  1 (5)
23 June – Manchester
   Flag of Germany Germany (pen.)  1 (6)  
 Flag of Germany Germany  2
30 June – London
 Flag of Croatia Croatia  1  
 Flag of Germany Germany (a.e.t.)  2
22 June – Liverpool
   Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic  1
 Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands  0 (4)
26 June – Manchester
 Flag of France France (pen.)  0 (5)  
 Flag of France France  0 (5)
23 June – Birmingham
   Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic (pen.)  0 (6)  
 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic  1
 Flag of Portugal Portugal  0  


[edit] Quarter-finals

1996-06-22
15:00
England Flag of England 0 – 0 (a.e.t.) Flag of Spain Spain Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 75,440
Referee: Marc Batta (France)
(Report)
     
Penalties
Shearer Scored
Platt Scored
Pearce Scored
Gascoigne Scored
4 – 2 Penalties
Missed (hit crossbar) Hierro
Scored Amor
Scored Belsúe
Missed (saved) Nadal
 

1996-06-22
18:30
Netherlands Flag of the Netherlands 0 – 0 (a.e.t.) Flag of France France Anfield, Liverpool
Attendance: 37,465
Referee: Antonio López Nieto (Spain)
(Report)
     
Penalties
de Kock Scored
R. de Boer Scored
Kluivert Scored
Seedorf Missed (saved)
Blind Scored
4 – 5 Penalties
Scored Zidane
Scored Djorkaeff
Scored Lizarazu
Scored Guérin
Scored Blanc
 

1996-06-23
15:00
Germany Flag of Germany 2 – 1 Flag of Croatia Croatia Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 43,412
Referee: Leif Sundell (Sweden)
Klinsmann Scored after 20 minutes 20' (pen.)
Sammer Scored after 59 minutes 59'
(Report) Šuker Scored after 51 minutes 51'

1996-06-23
18:30
Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic 1 – 0 Flag of Portugal Portugal Villa Park, Birmingham
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Hellmut Krug (Germany)
Poborský Scored after 53 minutes 53' (Report)

[edit] Semi-finals

1996-06-26
16:00
France Flag of France 0 – 0 (a.e.t.) Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 43,877
Referee: Leslie Mottram (Scotland)
(Report)
     
Penalties
Zidane Scored
Djorkaeff Scored
Lizarazu Scored
Guérin Scored
Blanc Scored
Pedros Missed (saved)
5 – 6 Penalties
Scored Kubík
Scored Nedvěd
Scored Berger
Scored Poborský
Scored Rada
Scored Kadlec
 

1996-06-26
19:30
England Flag of England 1 – 1 (a.e.t.) Flag of Germany Germany Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 75,862
Referee: Sándor Puhl (Hungary)
Shearer Scored after 3 minutes 3' (Report) Kuntz Scored after 16 minutes 16'
     
Penalties
Shearer Scored
Platt Scored
Pearce Scored
Gascoigne Scored
Sheringham Scored
Southgate Missed (saved)
5 – 6 Penalties
Scored Häßler
Scored Strunz
Scored Reuter
Scored Ziege
Scored Kuntz
Scored Möller
 

[edit] Final

1996-06-30
19:00
Germany Flag of Germany 2 – 1 (a.e.t.) Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 76,700
Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)
Bierhoff Scored after 73 minutes 73' Scored after 95 minutes 95' (Report) Berger Scored after 59 minutes 59' (pen.)
 Euro 1996 Champions 
Flag of Germany
Germany
Third title

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Goalscorers

5 goals

3 goals

2 goals

[edit] UEFA Team of the Tournament

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

UEFA Player of the Tournament

[edit] Fastest goal

3 minutes : Alan Shearer (England vs Germany); Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria vs Romania)

[edit] Average goals

2.06 goals per game