Euro 1996 goes down as one of the best Euros of all times, it was the year when football came home and the England team made its nation proud by reaching the semi finals of the tournament where unfortunately they were eliminated in a penalty shootout against Germany.
Despite the disappointment, the team provided a lot of highlights for its supporters to enjoy and cherish and in no match did the England team strut their stuff better than against the Dutch national team, who were given a true hammering in the 4-1 defeat.
England started well and Shearer was the first to make appearance on the score sheet from the penalty spot after Paul Ince won the penalty by deceiving the defender with a cute trick.
England doubled their lead soon after with a well placed header from a corner by Teddy Sheringham, the embarrassment was soon completed with a quickfire 10 minute blitz in which England’s front two of Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer added a goal apiece to well and truly put the game beyond the Dutch.
The third goal scored by England was a particularly well worked one where Gascoigne dribbled the ball into the box and laying it off to Sheringham who calmly passed the ball to Shearer, who made no mistake in rifling the ball into the top corner.
Patrick Kluivert scored a late consolation goal for the Dutch but at the point the game was well and truly beyond the Dutch.
This was one of the most complete performances of all time by England against one of the so called bigger teams and also put down an early marker to the rest that England are here to compete for the ultimate prize in their home tournament.
Final Score
England vs Netherlands: 4-1
Alan Shearer 23′, 57′ Patrick Kluivert 78
Teddy Sheringham 51′, 62′