Today I'm going back 25 years to 30th June 1996 and the Final of Euro96 between Germany and the Czech Republic at the old Wembley Stadium.
For younger readers, this is how the Germans used to be. They peaked every two years at a tournament, won their matches, succeeded in a penalty shootout and then lifted the trophy at the end of it. No longer! Yesterday's events at Wembley showed the Germans as being mortal again and it felt so good, so good, so good!
In 1996, Germany, based at Old Trafford, Manchester, had comfortably navigated a Group C containing Italy, Russia and, yes, the Czech Republic to reach the knockout phase. In the Quarter-Finals they squeezed past Croatia 2-1 before heading to Wembley for a date with England. I was heartbroken that day as England crashed out on penalties. I already had a ticket in my pocket for the Final. Gareth Southgate missed England's sixth and decisive penalty and, instead of England, I was going to have to watch the Germans in the Final.
The Czechs, as already mentioned, also spent their Group Phase in Group C but to say that they were surprise finalists is almost an understatement. Nobody expected to see the Czechs at the business end of the tournament. Indeed they only progressed from the Group phase with an 88th minute equaliser against the Russians at Anfield sneaking past Italy on their head to head record. In the Quarter Finals the underdogs beat Portugal 1-0 at Villa Park before heading to Old Trafford for a Semi-Final date with France. France showed that it wasn't just England that could lose a Semi-Final penalty shootout however as, following a 0-0 draw they also lost 6-5 on penalties. The Czechs were in the Final and, take note everybody, they're not out of this year's tournament yet!
The Final of Euro96 was the second Germany versus Czech Republic game of the tournament. The Germans had comfortably won that first encounter at Old Trafford 2-0 but things weren't going to be so comfortable in the Final. Indeed, the Czechs came mightily close to making off with the biggest prize. After a goalless hour, man of the match Karel Poborsky was brought down in the area and Patrick Berger stepped up to put the Czechs ahead from the penalty spot. Things looked to be slipping away from the Germans who gambled by throwing on another forward with the introduction of substitute Oliver Bierhoff with around 20 minutes to go. Cometh the hour cometh the man. Bierfhoff headed the German equaliser in the 73rd minute and the game went to extra time.
In 1996 UEFA were experimenting with use of the "Golden Goal" if a game went into extra time. Basically, rather than necessarily playing out thirty additional minutes it was a case of "next goal wins". So it proved five minutes into the additional period as Bierhoff struck again to win the tournament for the Germans. I didn't like Golden Goal. The end of the game came too suddenly and unexpectedly for my liking and I suppose UEFA thought the same too with the concept being dropped after Euro 2004. The Germans had won and they proceeded to steal our song: Football's Coming Home echoed around Wembley as the German fans celebrated. In a really nice touch, the Germans took out a full page advert in a broadsheet newspaper thanking all fans for making it such a memorable tournament. At least we won't have to suffer a repeat of that this time around eh?
CRB Match No. 1050
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