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20 Greatest European Championship Moments of All-Time

By Jon O'brien

Famous figures from football history gathered on the pitch before the European Cup final between Leeds United and Bayern Munich, (back row from left) Marquitez, Matt Busby, Miguel Munoz and Keizer, (front row from left) Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa, Jose Augusto, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Famous figures from football history gathered on the pitch before the European Cup final between Leeds United and Bayern Munich, (back row from left) Marquitez, Matt Busby, Miguel Munoz and Keizer, (front row from left) Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa, Jose Augusto, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) /
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BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – MARCH 24: Gareth Southgate manager of England U21 speaks during an England U21 press conference ahead of their UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier against Switzerland at St Georges Park on March 24, 2016 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – MARCH 24: Gareth Southgate manager of England U21 speaks during an England U21 press conference ahead of their UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier against Switzerland at St Georges Park on March 24, 2016 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Gareth Southgate’s penalty miss

“It’s coming home. It’s coming. Football’s coming home” roared the packed-out Wembley during England’s semi-final showdown with arch rivals Germany in Euro ‘96. And up until Gareth Southgate stepped up to take a penalty, it really did seem as though the words of Lightning Seeds and Baddiel & Skinner’s football anthem would prove to be prescient.

England hadn’t won a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup but after seeing-off neighbors Scotland, demolishing Holland and squeezing past Spain, there was hope that the 30 years of hurt was finally coming to an end.

Terry Venables’ side more than matched favorites Germany in normal time, and Paul Gascoigne came agonisingly close to adding a more triumphant chapter to his life story in the subsequent extra 30 minutes. But after finishing 1-1, the game went to penalties.

Gareth Southgate, the Aston Villa defender not exactly renowned for his deadly striking prowess, then joined Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce on the list of England’s spot-kick failures with a shot weaker than a wet paper bag. The ruthlessly efficient Germany inevitably scored all five of theirs and progressed to a final against Czech Republic.

Next: Germany’s golden goal