ball into his path.Villa boss Bruce threw on Jack

ball into his path.Villa boss Bruce threw on Jack

26.11.2019 16:29

For England football fans of a certain age, Euro 96 remains the pinnacle, when, for a summer at least, the Three Lions seemed invincible. Twenty years on and with Euro 2016 kick-off 10 days away, we spoke to four members of Terry Venables Euro 96 squad - Darren Anderton, Stuart Pearce, Jamie Redknapp and Steve Howey - to get their memories from one of Englands finest tournament performances.Euro 96 brought a major championship to English stadia for the first time since 1966, and with it the pressure to live up to past glory, but a pre-tournament trip to the Far East got preparations off to a rocky start. Jamie Redknapp recalls his experience of playing for England against Scotland Euro 2016: Ultimate Guide Your guide to all 24 teams at Euro 2016 this summer Paul Gascoignes 29th birthday celebrations went on well into the Hong Kong night as Redknapp, then aged 22, remembers: Our issues before the football started with the Dentists Chair and all that - it was a night that got out of hand.The papers predictably had a field day and the headlines in the build-up to their opening group game against Switzerland were brutal. Englands starting XI to face Germany in their Euro 96 semi-final A bunch of has-beens show up a bunch of wannabes was the Daily Mails verdict after Venables side scraped a 1-0 friendly win over a Hong Kong XI. Sporting morons was another slightly more succinct put-down.We got quite a bit of criticism because of that Hong Kong trip, but the connection between the lads was excellent, Howey, a substitute in all five tournament matches, told Sky Sports. Alan Shearer wheels away to celebrate his goal against Switzerland A 1-1 draw at Wembley against the Swiss, led by former PSG and Porto boss Artur Jorge, opened the door to further cynicism.There was so much optimism as the host nation, and it did seem to change after that first game, Anderton added.We didnt get off to a fantastic start but we knew we had fantastic players. We had tough games to come against Holland and Scotland, but we thought one good performance could send us on our way.A meeting with Craig Browns Scotland was always likely to be a nervy affair, and the game ultimately turned on the introduction of Redknapp with the score goalless. Gascoigne celebrates his stunning goal against Scotland The Sky Sports pundit recalls: We werent great and Terry made a superb tactical substitution at the break! We started to play a little bit - Scotland were a very good side - but we just had the edge, Gazza was immense and his goal was so good.Gascoignes flick over Colin Hendry and volley past Andy Goram remains one of the defining moments of the tournament, but while England showed signs of quality in the 2-0 victory over Scotland, it was not until the 4-1 thrashing of Holland in their final Group A match that the whole nation seemed to unite behind them. Shearer scores during Englands 4-1 victory over Holland Twenty years ago last week, Baddiel and Skinners Three Lions (Footballs Coming Home) stormed to No 1, and roared on by that unofficial national anthem, England fever spread ahead of a quarter-final date with Spain.As we progressed, there were more and more people on the route to Wembley, Anderton remembers. Heading to games down the M40, you started noticing flags everywhere. It was surreal, and like nothing I have experienced before or since. Stuart Pearce celebrates his successful penalty against Spain It would come down to a penalty shoot-out, now most often remembered for Pearces celebration after his successful take. Having failed from the spot against Germany in the World Cup semi-final at Italia 90, was it relief or elation?I knew that it was going to be my last tournament, Pearce told Sky Sports. I planned to retire so I knew whichever match was our last was going to be my last one too. David Seaman made a crucial penalty save from Gary McAllister during Englands win over Scotland England rode their luck against the Spaniards, who were denied by the assistant referees flag and an inspired performance from keeper David Seaman. The Arsenal stopper was the eventual hero, keeping out a spot-kick by Miguel Nadal - Rafas uncle - to seal progress on penalties after a tense 0-0 draw.We didnt play particularly well, Pearce admitted. Spain were better than us but as luck happens, we had a goalkeeper who was probably the best in the world at the time.Now only Germany stood between England and their first major final since 1966.The drive to Wembley was frightening, Anderton recalls. As we got nearer the stadium, Alan Shearer put on Footballs Coming Home to get the boys pumped up and ready.Once we got to the stadium, it felt like there was already 100,000 people there. I remember staying out for the warm-up probably longer than we should have done, with Baddiel and Skinner on repeat. It really did get us going. Darren Anderton recalls his experience of playing for England against Germany in the semi-finals A national TV audience of 24 million was celebrating inside three minutes, Shearer nodding in his fifth and final Euro 96 goal to put England in dreamland, but Germany swiftly struck back through Stefan Kuntz.The game ebbed and flowed but the hosts looked the more likely to grab the winner in extra time, Gascoigne a shaved stud away from a Golden Goal and Anderton denied by the width of the post.I try and forget about that even now, Anderton said, reliving his near miss. Steve McManaman crossed and it was one of those that was just a fraction behind me.I got my foot on it as I was falling backwards and when I hit it, I thought it was in, but it hit the post - and not only that, it bounced right back into the goalkeepers arms.Thats when you start thinking, maybe this is not meant to be. Gascoigne was inches away from scoring a Golden Goal against Germany Two hours of high-energy football came and went in a flash, but curiously Venables didnt make a single substitution.The adrenaline was pumping so much, it felt like you could play for another 120 minutes, Anderton, who played the full game, added.It was that sort of night. When youre playing well as an individual and a team, you can run forever, and thats how it felt.For the second match running, England would face a shoot-out. Spot-kicks now leave all but the most optimistic England fan resigned to defeat, and victory over Spain remains the nations only major tournament success in seven attempts, a shoot-out win ratio of just 17 per cent.But it started positively on that warm Wembley night as England dispatched five in a row, matched every step of the way by Germany.Everyone knew Shearer would have one, because he was our taker, Pearce added. From then, there was no real defined order. I volunteered just leading into the shoot-out to take mine. Gareth Southgates penalty miss against the Germans ended Englands tournament You know the story from here. Shearer, Platt, Pearce, Gascoigne and Sheringham all beat Andreas Kopke, but when Gareth Southgate failed, German captain Andreas Moller sent England crashing out.It was a surreal moment, just heartbreaking, Anderton said. Germany celebrate victory over England at Wembley The atmosphere after the game was almost disbelief. It was a very quiet dressing room and a quiet coach. We had a few beers in the bar back at the hotel and the realisation set in.A thrilling friendly victory in Berlin over Germanys 2016 vintage has raised expectations for this years squad, but many feel a quarter-final place would qualify as success for England in France.Two decades on and no tournament since has captured the spirit of Euro 96, but Roy Hodgson takes an exciting young team to Chantilly, and if they can go one better, it could yet be a summer to remember. Shearer celebrates in front of the England fans at Wembley Going to the games and coming back after, especially when we won, the streets were lined with fans, Howey remembers.It was a beautiful summer as well. The atmosphere, the song, it just brought it all back that this was where football started. The fans played an unbelievable part in that.Pearce agreed, adding: Its the best tournament I was ever involved in, and the general atmosphere was by far the best I have ever experienced wearing an England shirt, theres no doubt about that.It just brought the whole country together. Also See: Euro 2016: Ultimate Guide Englands Toulon starlets Englands route to the final Rank the Euro 2016 kits Custom Jerseys .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. College Jerseys . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. Wholesale Jerseys . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. Stitched Jerseys . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose.Steve Bruce continued his unbeaten run with Aston Villa, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Amex in the Sky Bet Championship. Nathan Baker headed Villa in front after 20 minutes on Friday night before the Seagulls pulled level through a fine Glenn Murray effort on the stroke of half-time.Brighton may have dominated possession on the night, but it was Villa who had the of the better chances. Unfortunately for the away fans, though, they could not find another breakthrough and Bruce added a third draw to his three wins from six games in charge. Baker (left) scored with a header after 20 minutes Brighton, meanwhile, closed the gap on league leaders Newcastle, but the Magpies could extend the gap to five points when they play away at Leeds on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. Brighton started the better of the two sides, but it was Villa who opened the scoring thanks to Bakers header with the first real chance of the game after 20 minutes.Villa had not really got forward until they won a free-kick 35 yards out, and Albert Adomahs floated ball in found the head of Baker, who rose highest in the area to glance the ball past David Stockdale. Glenn Murray equalised from the edge of the area The home side continued to push forward but struggled to get their front two of Murray and Sam Baldock into the game until the 44th minute when the pair combined to devastating effect.First, Murray received the ball from Steve Sidwell then played a lovely one-two with Baldock before firing into the bottom corner with a fierce low strike from the edge of the area for his 150th league goal. The second half started at breakneck pace as both sides pushed for the next goal, and it was Murray who went closest just after the hour, heading narrowly over the bar for Brighton after Baldock had lifted the ball into his path.Villa boss Bruce threw on Jack Grealish midway through the second half and the young midfielder made an immediate impact as his quality on the ball helped the away side to dominate. Shane Duffy is challenged by Gabriel Agbonlahor In a period of pressure, Grealish saw two shots from the edge of the areaa deflected narrowly wide, while Jonathan Kodjia rattled the crossbar with one header before forcing a fine fingertip save from David Stockdale with another.ddddddddddddBrighton substitute Jamie Murphy then forced a fine save from Pierluigi Gollini late on, but it was Villa who always looked the more likely to score again.Chris Hughtons side held on, though, and Villa missed their chance to climb into the top half of the table, sitting in 13th ahead of the rest of the weekends action. Brighton manager Chris Hughton claims he was happy to claim a draw against Aston Villa given the quality that Steve Bruces side possesses Brighton boss Chris Hughton:I thought we were very unfortunate to go 1-0 down when we did. We were up against a side that were very compact and pressed the ball, but didnt really have a goal threat in that first half period [before they scored]. It was very against the run of play.But as the game grew on they showed their quality and it probably got to the stage at 1-1 where I was reasonably happy with a draw. Theyre a very good side and have players who have come in for big fees to play in the Premier League, thats what we were up against.They showed what a big threat they are and why theyll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce:Its the best weve played in the second half because to come here is never going to be easy, [Brighton] are a very good side who have been playing very, very well.Were a bit disappointed we didnt see it out until half-time, but the way we responded in the second half, I can only congratulate them on a really good performance. With a little bit more luck maybe we could have gone away with all three.Weve worked meticulously on the shape and organisation, and with the flair players weve got were always likely to score a goal, and touch wood at the moment its going okay.Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! ' ' '


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