England v Netherlands, 18 June 1996

Score4-1 to England
RefereeGerd Grabher
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals Group A
VenueWembley Stadium
Attendance76,798
Kick-off: 7.30pm England produced one of their most thrilling performances in years to ensure a stylish route through to the quarter-finals, while the Netherlands also did just enough to reach the last eight. A draw would have been sufficient for both teams to progress but Terry Venables' charges rarely looked prepared to settle for such an outcome in front of an expectant Wembley crowd. Though they had only Alan Shearer's penalty to show for their first-half efforts, England did not neglect their duty to entertain after the interval, Teddy Sheringham scoring either side of Shearer's second during a memorable 11-minute spell which lit up the hosts' tournament. Such a sensational display might never have been had the Dutch taken one of a host of first-half opportunities, Clarence Seedorf, Aron Winter and Dennis Bergkamp all culpable of spurning presentable openings. Shearer was not so profligate after Danny Blind had felled Paul Ince, finishing from the spot to maintain his goal-a-game sequence at the finals. It was not until after the restart that the floodgates opened, however, Sheringham showing characteristic aerial prowess to sneak Paul Gascoigne's corner in at the far post. The same two players were again involved in the third, Gascoigne bursting down the left before passing inside to Sheringham, whose delightful lay-off was met by a thunderous Shearer finish. Sheringham made it four when he clipped in the rebound after Darren Anderton's deflected shot was parried by Edwin van der Sar; with Scotland leading Switzerland 1-0 at Villa Park, the Dutch were suddenly on the brink of elimination. Patrick Kluivert came off the bench to perform a dramatic rescue act, finding a way past David Seaman with 12 minutes left to send the Orange through ahead of the Scots on goal difference. Guus Hiddink's team were not celebrating, however – they had been outplayed by an England team now brimming with momentum.

4  England

Manager: Terry Venables

1  Netherlands

Manager: Guus Hiddink

Goals:

Alan Shearer penalty 23 P
Teddy Sheringham 51 G
Alan Shearer 57 G
Teddy Sheringham 62 G

Goals:

Patrick Kluivert 78 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper David Seaman
Defender Tony Adams (captain)
Defender Gary Neville
Defender Stuart Pearce
Defender Gareth Southgate
Midfielder Darren Anderton
Midfielder Paul Gascoigne
Midfielder Paul Ince
Midfielder Steve McManaman
Forward Alan Shearer

Starting lineup:

Edwin van der Sar Goalkeeper
Danny Blind Defender (captain)
Michael Reiziger Defender
Winston Bogarde Defender/Centre back
Jordi Cruyff Midfielder
Ronald de Boer Midfielder
Clarence Seedorf Midfielder
Aron Winter Midfielder
Richard Witschge Midfielder
Dennis Bergkamp Forward
Peter Hoekstra Forward

Substitutions:

David Platt for Paul Ince 67
Nick Barmby for Teddy Sheringham 76
Robbie Fowler for Alan Shearer 76

Substitutions:

Johan de Kock for Richard Witschge 46
Phillip Cocu for Peter Hoekstra 72
Patrick Kluivert for Ronald de Boer 72

Cards:

Teddy Sheringham 41 Y
Paul Ince 43 Y
Gareth Southgate 90 Y

Cards:

Aron Winter 18 Y
Danny Blind 23 Y
Dennis Bergkamp 67 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Tim Flowers
Goalkeeper Ian Walker
Defender Sol Campbell
Defender Phil Neville
Midfielder David Platt
Midfielder Steve Stone
Midfielder/Forward Nick Barmby
Forward Les Ferdinand
Forward Robbie Fowler

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Ed de Goey
Goalkeeper Ruud Hesp
Defender Johan de Kock
Defender Arthur Numan
Defender Jaap Stam
Defender John Veldman
Midfielder Phillip Cocu
Forward Youri Mulder
Forward Gaston Taument

4  England

Manager: Terry Venables

Goals:

Alan Shearer penalty 23 P
Teddy Sheringham 51 G
Alan Shearer 57 G
Teddy Sheringham 62 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper David Seaman
Defender Tony Adams (captain)
Defender Gary Neville
Defender Stuart Pearce
Defender Gareth Southgate
Midfielder Darren Anderton
Midfielder Paul Gascoigne
Midfielder Paul Ince
Midfielder Steve McManaman
Forward Alan Shearer

Substitutions:

David Platt for Paul Ince 67
Nick Barmby for Teddy Sheringham 76
Robbie Fowler for Alan Shearer 76

Cards:

Teddy Sheringham 41 Y
Paul Ince 43 Y
Gareth Southgate 90 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Tim Flowers
Goalkeeper Ian Walker
Defender Sol Campbell
Defender Phil Neville
Midfielder David Platt
Midfielder Steve Stone
Midfielder/Forward Nick Barmby
Forward Les Ferdinand
Forward Robbie Fowler

1  Netherlands

Manager: Guus Hiddink

Goals:

Patrick Kluivert 78 G

Starting lineup:

Edwin van der Sar Goalkeeper
Danny Blind Defender (captain)
Michael Reiziger Defender
Winston Bogarde Defender/Centre back
Jordi Cruyff Midfielder
Ronald de Boer Midfielder
Clarence Seedorf Midfielder
Aron Winter Midfielder
Richard Witschge Midfielder
Dennis Bergkamp Forward
Peter Hoekstra Forward

Substitutions:

Johan de Kock for Richard Witschge 46
Phillip Cocu for Peter Hoekstra 72
Patrick Kluivert for Ronald de Boer 72

Cards:

Aron Winter 18 Y
Danny Blind 23 Y
Dennis Bergkamp 67 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Ed de Goey
Goalkeeper Ruud Hesp
Defender Johan de Kock
Defender Arthur Numan
Defender Jaap Stam
Defender John Veldman
Midfielder Phillip Cocu
Forward Youri Mulder
Forward Gaston Taument