EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 1996

In 1996 there would be sixteen teams in the European Championship for the first time, with an extra quarter-final round having been added. Hosts England were in Group A, and after a slow start produced some of their best football for years to coast through as group winners. Despite an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to England, the Netherlands edged into the last eight as well after their late consolation goal put them ahead of Scotland on goals scored.

In Group B, it appeared after two rounds of matches that France and 1994 World Cup semi-finalists Bulgaria would be the teams to go through, but Bulgaria's defeat to France opened the door for Spain. Having drawn their first two games, Spain edged past Romania 2-1 to leave their opponents without a point and send Bulgaria home as well.

Group C appeared to be the strongest in the competition, and Germany and Italy were favourites to qualify. Both won their opening games, but Italy's shock defeat to the Czech Republic threw the group wide open. Italy needed to beat the Germans to be sure of going through but only drew 0-0, but when already eliminated Russia led the Czechs late on it appeared that the Italians may have been let off the hook. However, a late Czech equaliser took them through by virtue of having beaten Italy, even though they had a worse goal difference.

Portugal and newcomers Croatia were the class of Group D. Two wins took Croatia through with a match to spare, and victory for Portugal over the Croats in the final game put qualification beyond defending champions Denmark, a shadow of their 1992 team. Their win over first-time qualifiers Turkey came much too late to prevent them losing their crown.

England and France edged past Spain and the Netherlands respectively after penalty shoot-outs decided their quarter-finals following 0-0 draws. Germany ended Croatia's impressive first major tournament with a 2-1 win and the Czech Republic completed the last four with a narrow 1-0 win over Portugal. Both semi-finals also went to penalties, with the Czechs ending France's hopes and Germany, as they had in the World Cup six years earlier, breaking England's hearts, this time on home soil.

Germany had beaten the Czech Republic 2-0 in their group meeting, but the final was a much closer affair and it was the Czechs, comfortable outsiders, who took a surprise lead. Patrik Berger opened the scoring with a penalty, although the foul appeared to have been outside the area. The Czechs held on until 17 minutes from time when Oliver Bierhoff equalised to force extra-time. Just five minutes into the extra period, Bierhoff struck again, and under the new golden goal rule, the match was over. The Czechs had failed to repeat Czechoslovakia's 1976 triumph over the Germans, who took a record third title.