Germany v Czech Republic, 30 June 1996

Score2-1 to Germany
RefereePierluigi Pairetto
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Final
VenueWembley Stadium
Attendance73,611
Kick-off: 7.00pm Germany won on the Golden Goal rule during extra time Oliver Bierhoff climbed off the bench to inspire injury-ravaged Germany to Euro 96 glory, as Berti Vogts' side came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in extra time. Bierhoff was introduced with Germany 21 minutes from a surprise final defeat after Patrik Berger's penalty before the hour. The Udinese striker wasted no time, equalising to take the game into extra time before somehow squeezing in a 95th-minute winner – senior international football's first golden goal. A few wheels came full circle here. Twenty years earlier Germany had lost to Czechoslovakia, underdogs then as now, in the UEFA European Championship final; they were beaten by dark horses Denmark in 1992; and in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final, also at Wembley, they lost to a contentious goal. Payback time. The omens were not too promising, even discounting the history described above. While the Czechs were able to bring back Berger and three of their suspended players, Germany's injury list had grown so long that Jürgen Klinsmann played despite a calf problem – and they were allowed to add two new players to their squad. The first half was largely uneventful. Germany pressed, with Stefan Kuntz missing two chances; the Czechs defended in numbers and broke from the back, most notably when Pavel Kuka went clear but shot straight at the keeper. The rest was a trial of patience. A penalty awarded when Mattias Sammer brought down the lively Karel Poborský took the Czechs ahead. Berger thumped the ball into the net, and it seemed a shock was on the cards. But then Vogts sent on Bierhoff, and he demonstrated his power in the air almost immediately. Christian Ziege's free-kick from deep on the right was in the air a long time, but Petr Kouba did not come out, allowing Bierhoff to tower over him and head in. Vladimír Smicer, who had returned home to get married two days earlier, almost repeated his last-minute goal against Russia, but Andreas Köpke made a diving save. At last, after all the extra time earlier in the tournament, there was a golden goal. On the edge of the box with his back to goal, Bierhoff turned and struck a left-foot shot which hit Michal Horňák on its way through to Kouba. Somehow the keeper allowed ball to slip through his fingers and drop in off the far post. Sudden death for the Czech Republic's unexpected run.

2  Germany

Manager: Berti Vogts

1  Czech Republic

Manager: Dušan Uhrin

Goals:

Oliver Bierhoff penalty 73 P
Oliver Bierhoff 95 G

Goals:

Patrik Berger penalty 58 P

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Andreas Köpke
Defender Markus Babbel
Defender Thomas Helmer
Midfielder Dieter Eilts
Midfielder Thomas Hässler
Midfielder Matthias Sammer
Midfielder Mehmet Scholl
Midfielder Thomas Strunz
Midfielder Christian Ziege
Forward Jurgen Klinsmann (captain)
Forward Stefan Kuntz

Starting lineup:

Petr Kouba Goalkeeper
Michal Horňák Defender
Miroslav Kadlec Defender (captain)
Karel Rada Defender
Jan Suchopárek Defender
Radek Bejbl Midfielder
Patrik Berger Midfielder
Pavel Nedvěd Midfielder
Jiří Němec Midfielder
Karel Poborský Midfielder
Pavel Kuka Forward

Substitutions:

Marco Bode for Dieter Eilts 46
Oliver Bierhoff for Mehmet Scholl 68

Substitutions:

Vladimír Smicer for Vladimír Smicer 88

Cards:

Thomas Helmer 63 Y
Matthias Sammer 69 Y
Christian Ziege 91 Y

Cards:

Michal Horňák 47 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn
Goalkeeper Oliver Reck
Defender Rene Schneider
Forward Oliver Bierhoff
Forward Marco Bode

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Ladislav Maier
Goalkeeper Pavel Srníček
Defender Martin Kotulek
Defender Luboš Kubík
Midfielder Martin Frýdek
Midfielder Václav Němeček
Midfielder Pavel Novotny
Midfielder Vladimír Smicer
Forward Radek Drulák
Forward Milan Kerbr

2  Germany

Manager: Berti Vogts

Goals:

Oliver Bierhoff penalty 73 P
Oliver Bierhoff 95 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Andreas Köpke
Defender Markus Babbel
Defender Thomas Helmer
Midfielder Dieter Eilts
Midfielder Thomas Hässler
Midfielder Matthias Sammer
Midfielder Mehmet Scholl
Midfielder Thomas Strunz
Midfielder Christian Ziege
Forward Jurgen Klinsmann (captain)
Forward Stefan Kuntz

Substitutions:

Marco Bode for Dieter Eilts 46
Oliver Bierhoff for Mehmet Scholl 68

Cards:

Thomas Helmer 63 Y
Matthias Sammer 69 Y
Christian Ziege 91 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn
Goalkeeper Oliver Reck
Defender Rene Schneider
Forward Oliver Bierhoff
Forward Marco Bode

1  Czech Republic

Manager: Dušan Uhrin

Goals:

Patrik Berger penalty 58 P

Starting lineup:

Petr Kouba Goalkeeper
Michal Horňák Defender
Miroslav Kadlec Defender (captain)
Karel Rada Defender
Jan Suchopárek Defender
Radek Bejbl Midfielder
Patrik Berger Midfielder
Pavel Nedvěd Midfielder
Jiří Němec Midfielder
Karel Poborský Midfielder
Pavel Kuka Forward

Substitutions:

Vladimír Smicer for Vladimír Smicer 88

Cards:

Michal Horňák 47 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Ladislav Maier
Goalkeeper Pavel Srníček
Defender Martin Kotulek
Defender Luboš Kubík
Midfielder Martin Frýdek
Midfielder Václav Němeček
Midfielder Pavel Novotny
Midfielder Vladimír Smicer
Forward Radek Drulák
Forward Milan Kerbr