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The first major tournament I remember seeing England play in was the World Cup in 1986. All I remember of it is Maradonna's 'Hand of God' goal. It wasn't until a few years back that I also got to see his wonder-goal in the same match. Either way, the match didn't really stick with me, I wasn't a big football fan at the time.
What really got me into football was when Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990. I don't remember any of the group games, I don't know if I watched them or not, I seem to remember us scoring late on with a header against Egypt to put us in the knock-out stages but it's not a clear memory.
The only thing I remember about the Belgium match is Platt's goal. It was the quarter final against Cameroon that really sticks with me. I clearly remember the build up to the match, some BBC presenter speaking to a witch doctor from Cameroon who predicted a 2-1 win for Cameroon. Cameroon had been the surprise team of the competition, beating the holders Argentina in their first game and lighting up the tournament with the goals of Roger Miller, and their exciting attacking play. I remember us being 2-1 behind in the second half, and remembered the witch doctor's words. I was still thinking about him when Cameroon conceded a penalty, which Gary Linekar scored with only a couple of minutes left. This took the match into extra time, and another penalty won it for us. It saw so incredibly exciting, and I was hooked on football from this moment on. I thought we'd win the tournament from here, no doubt about it.
West Germany, as they were then, had different idea's though. When we went a goal down I still thought we could win it, and Gary Linekar's superb equalizer kept me believing. I remember Gazza crying when he got that yellow card. When it comes to the penalty shootout, I only remember England's misses. Stuart Pearce hitting the legs of the German keeper, and Chris Waddle blasting the ball over. I was gutted. I didn't watch the third/ fourth place play off match, and I've never really thought it was a necessary match either. No team wants to play another match so soon after getting kncked out. After being so close to the final, who cares about whether you're 3rd or 4th?
Two years later, there was Euro 1992, in Sweden. I didn't see many of the qualifying matches, though I remember beating Ireland for top place. I had a Sun pull-out for the tournement, with the headline "ENGLAND 1 GERMANY 0 - We'll meet 'em and beat 'em in the final!" I actually believed that. :-)
So we play the first game, against Denmark, who didn't even qualify, they got put into the tournament fro being runneres up to Yugoslavia, who were banned from the competition due to civil war in the country. An easy win was what I was predicting. It wasn't to be though, we were poor in front of goal, and Denmark nearly beat us. One of their players struck the post, I remember John Motson commentating "and he was turning away to celebrate the goal!". Well at least we didn't get beaten I thought. The next match was just as poor, drawing 0-0 with France. Our final match was against the hosts Sweden. "Brolin - Dahlin - Brolin! And Brolin has scored a fabulous goal!" We lost 2-1, Gary Linekar got substituted and never played for England again, and Graham Taylor became known as the Turnip. At least it wasn't Germany that won the tournament, but Denmark, who didn't even qualify. They had some really horrific injuries in the semi too! I remember Arsenal buying John Jensen on the strength of his performances in this tournament!
For an England supporter, things weren't good. We didn't make the 1994 World Cup in the USA, having been beaten by Norway and Holland. The match in Holland was sickening, as we should have had a penalty, and Kouman should have been sent off, but no, we wasted the free kick, and then later HE scored the winning goal. We were even losing in a match against San Marino at one time, and though we eventually won the match, it shows how bad we were.
A new manager brought new hope. Terry Venables took over for the build up to Euro 96, taking place at home, here in England. We also had a great song for the tournament too. Three Lions. Great song, which, strangely, the Germans seem to have adopted.
Our first match was uninspirational. A 1-1 draw with Switzerland. At least we didn't get beaten, I thought, but was less certain about our chances after this game. Next we took on the Stots, and anything could happen in these matches. We scored first, deservedly, but gave away a penalty. Gary McAllister stepped up to take it. Apparently the ball rolled slightly before he kicked it, for which I remember Uri Gellar taking credit. Anyway, David Seaman saved it (I personally put it down to his socks which lookedlikea tube of Refresher's). We went straight up the other end, Gazza got hold of the ball, chipped it over Colin 'Worzel Gummage' Hendry. and beat the keeper with ease. 2-0. Fantastic stuff, but our toughest test was still to come.
Holland are always amogst the favourites, no matter which tournament they play in, so none of us were expecting quite what we got. In one of the best performances I can remember us ever producing we tore them to pieces, winning 4-1. Two goals each for Shearer and Sheringham had put us in the quater-finals against the eternal under-achievers, Spain.
The Spain match was a tough one. We failed to reproduce the form from the match against the Dutch, and for long periods Spain were the better team. We held out for a 0-0 draw, and the match went to penalties. The stand out point from this shoot out wasn't a miss, but the way that Stuart Pearce buried the demons of Italia 90 by firing one into the back of the net. I'll never forget the look on his face when he stood screaming at the crowd with joy.
But with one ghost buried, another had to rise. Yep, it was the Germans again in the semi-final. We scored first, really early on, Alan Shearer, I believe. It looked for a long time that we'd score again, but that goal never came. Instead the Germans managed to equalize. We had a gret achance to win the match too, the ball was put across the pitch, and Gazza slid in, just missing the ball by the smallest of distances. In extra time the Germans thought they'd won it too, having put the ball in the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out. It looked like luck could be on our side as the match went to penalties. This time it was Gareth Southgate that failed to score. Andreas Moller stepped up, and if he scored we were out. He didn't hesitate, no mercy, he banged it in. Then he went up to the crowd, with his hands on his hips, oozing arrogance. Oh how I wish he had missed.
That was the tournament over for me. I watched part of the final, cheering on the Czech's against the German's, but it wasn't to be. Germany took home the trophy.
Worse was to follow, Terry Venables couldn't continue as manager. Glen Hoddle replaced him, and did a great job in the World Cup qualifiers. Despite losing a home match against Italy, we still managed to top the group and gain automatic qualification for the World Cup in 1998 in France.
We were placed in a reasonable group, playing Tunisia, Romania and Columbia. We beat the Tunisians with relative ease, goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes did the job. The Romania game wasn't so good though, we went a goal down, and just couldn't get back into the game. Well, not until Owen came onto the pitch to equalize. "Only one team can win this now" said Kevin Keegan from the commentary box. He meant England, but was wrong, when Romania got the winner mere seconds later. I was at Glastonbury, so missed the Columbia match, though was pleased to hear that he had gotten a 2-1 win, and better still David Beckham had scored. We were in the second round.
Argentina were our opponents, and it was a great match, well for a while.Owen scored a fantastic goal, but then Beckham got sent off. We still played well, I remember, and even had a goal disallowed from Sol Cambell. Had we have had 11 men, I reckon we would have won that match, but no, that wasn't the case. It went to penalties, and yet again we failed. It was David Batty that missed this one. Kevin Keegan was again in the commentary box "Will he score?" he was asked "Yes" replied Kevin. Poor guy was made to look a fool as a commentator.
Still, he would have been better off to stay as a commentator than actually taking the England job. Glen Hoddle was replaced for quoting the Bible. Unfortunately, it seems to be wrong to quote the nasty bits from the Bible, and what he said was taken way out of context, and we needed a new manager, again. Keegan left Fulham to take the job, and he certainly talked the talk. I was pleased with his appointment, pointing to his success with Newcastle, he'd turned them into an entertaining team. One who didn't win anything, true, but entertaining none the less. Even though we didn't have any great results in qualifying we scrapped into a play-off. Over two legs we beat the Scots 2-1, we won 2-0 up there, much to my joy, but lost at home, which I thougt was terrible. We were in the European Championships in Holland and Belgium, yes, but we'd lost at home to Scotland.
Results leading up to the tournament were disapointing, we scrapped a 2-1 win against Malta, but I was still hopeful for Euro 2000. It was quite a tough group we were in, with Portugal, Germany and Romania. We got of to a blinding start. 2-0 up against Portugal in 20 minutes. I was over the moon! I saw Figo with the ball in midfield. "Close him down" I urged, but no, he had the chance to shoot, and scored a blinder. After the break we lost a couple more goals, and lost the match 3-2. It was apparent that Keegan was lacking when it came to having to make changes. Portugal had changed after going 2-0 down, and Keegan couldn't counter it.
Germany were next. We hadn't beaten them in a tournament since 1966, so it was a big match. It wasn't a particularly great match, but Shearer got the winner. Germany had so many chances to equalize, but I reckon the people in the pubs all around the nation managed to will the ball away from the goal. We'd beaten the Germans, and all seemed good in the world for England fans again, but we should have been ready for another kick in the teeth.
Romania were'nt performing well in the tournament at all, they had quite an old squad, and people were saying they were past it. We were in a qualifying position right until the last minute, when we gave away a penalty. Another 3-2 defeat, and home early. More major tournament disappointment.
After losing hisfirst qualifying match at home to Germany, Keegan quit. I mad mixed feelings, I still think he's a good manager, but it did seem that he wasn't the man for the job. Along came Sven, who in all honesty I didn't know much about. People thought we might struggle to make the runner's up spot in the group, but Sven made us believe again. Beckham was made captain, and started performing at a level better than ever before. We started winning games again. We all know what happened in Germany, and we were on top of the world again. With England there's always a kick in the teeth, but not this time. Losing to Greece, at home, it looked like we'd have to settle for the play-off place after all. With the last kick of the game though, Beckham equalized. We were back on top. I screamed at my children, no doubt scaring them, btu I couldn't help it, we were there, without having to face Ukraine in a play off.
So here we are now, just 6 weeks away from the start of the World Cup in Korea and Japan. As an England fan I'm ever optimistic. On our day I reckon we can beat anyone, we've just got to play with more consistency. With England we may well beat Argentina, but lose out to Nigeria. Looking back at the past, you don't know what to expect. I don't realistically see us winning the whole thing, what I'd love to see would be strong performances in every match. Every player doing the best he can. If we do that, and still get beaten, can we really complain?
What really got me into football was when Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990. I don't remember any of the group games, I don't know if I watched them or not, I seem to remember us scoring late on with a header against Egypt to put us in the knock-out stages but it's not a clear memory.
The only thing I remember about the Belgium match is Platt's goal. It was the quarter final against Cameroon that really sticks with me. I clearly remember the build up to the match, some BBC presenter speaking to a witch doctor from Cameroon who predicted a 2-1 win for Cameroon. Cameroon had been the surprise team of the competition, beating the holders Argentina in their first game and lighting up the tournament with the goals of Roger Miller, and their exciting attacking play. I remember us being 2-1 behind in the second half, and remembered the witch doctor's words. I was still thinking about him when Cameroon conceded a penalty, which Gary Linekar scored with only a couple of minutes left. This took the match into extra time, and another penalty won it for us. It saw so incredibly exciting, and I was hooked on football from this moment on. I thought we'd win the tournament from here, no doubt about it.
West Germany, as they were then, had different idea's though. When we went a goal down I still thought we could win it, and Gary Linekar's superb equalizer kept me believing. I remember Gazza crying when he got that yellow card. When it comes to the penalty shootout, I only remember England's misses. Stuart Pearce hitting the legs of the German keeper, and Chris Waddle blasting the ball over. I was gutted. I didn't watch the third/ fourth place play off match, and I've never really thought it was a necessary match either. No team wants to play another match so soon after getting kncked out. After being so close to the final, who cares about whether you're 3rd or 4th?
Two years later, there was Euro 1992, in Sweden. I didn't see many of the qualifying matches, though I remember beating Ireland for top place. I had a Sun pull-out for the tournement, with the headline "ENGLAND 1 GERMANY 0 - We'll meet 'em and beat 'em in the final!" I actually believed that. :-)
So we play the first game, against Denmark, who didn't even qualify, they got put into the tournament fro being runneres up to Yugoslavia, who were banned from the competition due to civil war in the country. An easy win was what I was predicting. It wasn't to be though, we were poor in front of goal, and Denmark nearly beat us. One of their players struck the post, I remember John Motson commentating "and he was turning away to celebrate the goal!". Well at least we didn't get beaten I thought. The next match was just as poor, drawing 0-0 with France. Our final match was against the hosts Sweden. "Brolin - Dahlin - Brolin! And Brolin has scored a fabulous goal!" We lost 2-1, Gary Linekar got substituted and never played for England again, and Graham Taylor became known as the Turnip. At least it wasn't Germany that won the tournament, but Denmark, who didn't even qualify. They had some really horrific injuries in the semi too! I remember Arsenal buying John Jensen on the strength of his performances in this tournament!
For an England supporter, things weren't good. We didn't make the 1994 World Cup in the USA, having been beaten by Norway and Holland. The match in Holland was sickening, as we should have had a penalty, and Kouman should have been sent off, but no, we wasted the free kick, and then later HE scored the winning goal. We were even losing in a match against San Marino at one time, and though we eventually won the match, it shows how bad we were.
A new manager brought new hope. Terry Venables took over for the build up to Euro 96, taking place at home, here in England. We also had a great song for the tournament too. Three Lions. Great song, which, strangely, the Germans seem to have adopted.
Our first match was uninspirational. A 1-1 draw with Switzerland. At least we didn't get beaten, I thought, but was less certain about our chances after this game. Next we took on the Stots, and anything could happen in these matches. We scored first, deservedly, but gave away a penalty. Gary McAllister stepped up to take it. Apparently the ball rolled slightly before he kicked it, for which I remember Uri Gellar taking credit. Anyway, David Seaman saved it (I personally put it down to his socks which lookedlikea tube of Refresher's). We went straight up the other end, Gazza got hold of the ball, chipped it over Colin 'Worzel Gummage' Hendry. and beat the keeper with ease. 2-0. Fantastic stuff, but our toughest test was still to come.
Holland are always amogst the favourites, no matter which tournament they play in, so none of us were expecting quite what we got. In one of the best performances I can remember us ever producing we tore them to pieces, winning 4-1. Two goals each for Shearer and Sheringham had put us in the quater-finals against the eternal under-achievers, Spain.
The Spain match was a tough one. We failed to reproduce the form from the match against the Dutch, and for long periods Spain were the better team. We held out for a 0-0 draw, and the match went to penalties. The stand out point from this shoot out wasn't a miss, but the way that Stuart Pearce buried the demons of Italia 90 by firing one into the back of the net. I'll never forget the look on his face when he stood screaming at the crowd with joy.
But with one ghost buried, another had to rise. Yep, it was the Germans again in the semi-final. We scored first, really early on, Alan Shearer, I believe. It looked for a long time that we'd score again, but that goal never came. Instead the Germans managed to equalize. We had a gret achance to win the match too, the ball was put across the pitch, and Gazza slid in, just missing the ball by the smallest of distances. In extra time the Germans thought they'd won it too, having put the ball in the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out. It looked like luck could be on our side as the match went to penalties. This time it was Gareth Southgate that failed to score. Andreas Moller stepped up, and if he scored we were out. He didn't hesitate, no mercy, he banged it in. Then he went up to the crowd, with his hands on his hips, oozing arrogance. Oh how I wish he had missed.
That was the tournament over for me. I watched part of the final, cheering on the Czech's against the German's, but it wasn't to be. Germany took home the trophy.
Worse was to follow, Terry Venables couldn't continue as manager. Glen Hoddle replaced him, and did a great job in the World Cup qualifiers. Despite losing a home match against Italy, we still managed to top the group and gain automatic qualification for the World Cup in 1998 in France.
We were placed in a reasonable group, playing Tunisia, Romania and Columbia. We beat the Tunisians with relative ease, goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes did the job. The Romania game wasn't so good though, we went a goal down, and just couldn't get back into the game. Well, not until Owen came onto the pitch to equalize. "Only one team can win this now" said Kevin Keegan from the commentary box. He meant England, but was wrong, when Romania got the winner mere seconds later. I was at Glastonbury, so missed the Columbia match, though was pleased to hear that he had gotten a 2-1 win, and better still David Beckham had scored. We were in the second round.
Argentina were our opponents, and it was a great match, well for a while.Owen scored a fantastic goal, but then Beckham got sent off. We still played well, I remember, and even had a goal disallowed from Sol Cambell. Had we have had 11 men, I reckon we would have won that match, but no, that wasn't the case. It went to penalties, and yet again we failed. It was David Batty that missed this one. Kevin Keegan was again in the commentary box "Will he score?" he was asked "Yes" replied Kevin. Poor guy was made to look a fool as a commentator.
Still, he would have been better off to stay as a commentator than actually taking the England job. Glen Hoddle was replaced for quoting the Bible. Unfortunately, it seems to be wrong to quote the nasty bits from the Bible, and what he said was taken way out of context, and we needed a new manager, again. Keegan left Fulham to take the job, and he certainly talked the talk. I was pleased with his appointment, pointing to his success with Newcastle, he'd turned them into an entertaining team. One who didn't win anything, true, but entertaining none the less. Even though we didn't have any great results in qualifying we scrapped into a play-off. Over two legs we beat the Scots 2-1, we won 2-0 up there, much to my joy, but lost at home, which I thougt was terrible. We were in the European Championships in Holland and Belgium, yes, but we'd lost at home to Scotland.
Results leading up to the tournament were disapointing, we scrapped a 2-1 win against Malta, but I was still hopeful for Euro 2000. It was quite a tough group we were in, with Portugal, Germany and Romania. We got of to a blinding start. 2-0 up against Portugal in 20 minutes. I was over the moon! I saw Figo with the ball in midfield. "Close him down" I urged, but no, he had the chance to shoot, and scored a blinder. After the break we lost a couple more goals, and lost the match 3-2. It was apparent that Keegan was lacking when it came to having to make changes. Portugal had changed after going 2-0 down, and Keegan couldn't counter it.
Germany were next. We hadn't beaten them in a tournament since 1966, so it was a big match. It wasn't a particularly great match, but Shearer got the winner. Germany had so many chances to equalize, but I reckon the people in the pubs all around the nation managed to will the ball away from the goal. We'd beaten the Germans, and all seemed good in the world for England fans again, but we should have been ready for another kick in the teeth.
Romania were'nt performing well in the tournament at all, they had quite an old squad, and people were saying they were past it. We were in a qualifying position right until the last minute, when we gave away a penalty. Another 3-2 defeat, and home early. More major tournament disappointment.
After losing hisfirst qualifying match at home to Germany, Keegan quit. I mad mixed feelings, I still think he's a good manager, but it did seem that he wasn't the man for the job. Along came Sven, who in all honesty I didn't know much about. People thought we might struggle to make the runner's up spot in the group, but Sven made us believe again. Beckham was made captain, and started performing at a level better than ever before. We started winning games again. We all know what happened in Germany, and we were on top of the world again. With England there's always a kick in the teeth, but not this time. Losing to Greece, at home, it looked like we'd have to settle for the play-off place after all. With the last kick of the game though, Beckham equalized. We were back on top. I screamed at my children, no doubt scaring them, btu I couldn't help it, we were there, without having to face Ukraine in a play off.
So here we are now, just 6 weeks away from the start of the World Cup in Korea and Japan. As an England fan I'm ever optimistic. On our day I reckon we can beat anyone, we've just got to play with more consistency. With England we may well beat Argentina, but lose out to Nigeria. Looking back at the past, you don't know what to expect. I don't realistically see us winning the whole thing, what I'd love to see would be strong performances in every match. Every player doing the best he can. If we do that, and still get beaten, can we really complain?
seems as my first ever time watching england in a major tournament i dont know to much about the "old" days but through euro 96, world cup 98 and euro 2000 we have always had the potential but never quite filled it. but as the old saying goes "good things come to those who wait"
Memories of '66.... is that all we have left!????
This summer, England need to go out there and show that they are a team that can PLAY football!! We don't want a repeat of some of the previously mentioned years, which could mean another dissapointing, short-lived campaign! C'mon England - we don't need Beckham!
This summer, England need to go out there and show that they are a team that can PLAY football!! We don't want a repeat of some of the previously mentioned years, which could mean another dissapointing, short-lived campaign! C'mon England - we don't need Beckham!
I can only remember the Cameroon V England game in the 1990 World Cup.
The 1992 Euro Championships was just wierd. Denmark, for goodness sake!
Watching Ireland in the 1994 World Cup was great. They beat Italy in the groups, I think. I remember the penalty shoot out in the final. Roberto Baggio missed, I think.
Euro 96 was great, not just for English football, but for football in general. Great event and I didn't really mind Germany winning it although I did want the Czech Republic to win.
World Cup 98 and Euro 2000 promised so much but didn't really turn out great. Yeah, getting beat by Argentina, no shame in that. Should have got passed the groups in Euro 2000.
We can only hope that 2002 will be a good year for the England team, although I'm tipping Argentina to win.
The 1992 Euro Championships was just wierd. Denmark, for goodness sake!
Watching Ireland in the 1994 World Cup was great. They beat Italy in the groups, I think. I remember the penalty shoot out in the final. Roberto Baggio missed, I think.
Euro 96 was great, not just for English football, but for football in general. Great event and I didn't really mind Germany winning it although I did want the Czech Republic to win.
World Cup 98 and Euro 2000 promised so much but didn't really turn out great. Yeah, getting beat by Argentina, no shame in that. Should have got passed the groups in Euro 2000.
We can only hope that 2002 will be a good year for the England team, although I'm tipping Argentina to win.
The first major tournament I remember seeing England play in was the World Cup in 1986. All I remember of it is Maradonna's 'Hand of God' goal. It wasn't until a few years back that I also got to see his wonder-goal in the same match. Either way, the match didn't really stick with me, I wasn't a big football fan at the time.
What really got me into football was when Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990. I don't remember any of the group games, I don't know if I watched them or not, I seem to remember us scoring late on with a header against Egypt to put us in the knock-out stages but it's not a clear memory.
The only thing I remember about the Belgium match is Platt's goal. It was the quarter final against Cameroon that really sticks with me. I clearly remember the build up to the match, some BBC presenter speaking to a witch doctor from Cameroon who predicted a 2-1 win for Cameroon. Cameroon had been the surprise team of the competition, beating the holders Argentina in their first game and lighting up the tournament with the goals of Roger Miller, and their exciting attacking play. I remember us being 2-1 behind in the second half, and remembered the witch doctor's words. I was still thinking about him when Cameroon conceded a penalty, which Gary Linekar scored with only a couple of minutes left. This took the match into extra time, and another penalty won it for us. It saw so incredibly exciting, and I was hooked on football from this moment on. I thought we'd win the tournament from here, no doubt about it.
West Germany, as they were then, had different idea's though. When we went a goal down I still thought we could win it, and Gary Linekar's superb equalizer kept me believing. I remember Gazza crying when he got that yellow card. When it comes to the penalty shootout, I only remember England's misses. Stuart Pearce hitting the legs of the German keeper, and Chris Waddle blasting the ball over. I was gutted. I didn't watch the third/ fourth place play off match, and I've never really thought it was a necessary match either. No team wants to play another match so soon after getting kncked out. After being so close to the final, who cares about whether you're 3rd or 4th?
Two years later, there was Euro 1992, in Sweden. I didn't see many of the qualifying matches, though I remember beating Ireland for top place. I had a Sun pull-out for the tournement, with the headline "ENGLAND 1 GERMANY 0 - We'll meet 'em and beat 'em in the final!" I actually believed that. :-)
So we play the first game, against Denmark, who didn't even qualify, they got put into the tournament fro being runneres up to Yugoslavia, who were banned from the competition due to civil war in the country. An easy win was what I was predicting. It wasn't to be though, we were poor in front of goal, and Denmark nearly beat us. One of their players struck the post, I remember John Motson commentating "and he was turning away to celebrate the goal!". Well at least we didn't get beaten I thought. The next match was just as poor, drawing 0-0 with France. Our final match was against the hosts Sweden. "Brolin - Dahlin - Brolin! And Brolin has scored a fabulous goal!" We lost 2-1, Gary Linekar got substituted and never played for England again, and Graham Taylor became known as the Turnip. At least it wasn't Germany that won the tournament, but Denmark, who didn't even qualify. They had some really horrific injuries in the semi too! I remember Arsenal buying John Jensen on the strength of his performances in this tournament!
For an England supporter, things weren't good. We didn't make the 1994 World Cup in the USA, having been beaten by Norway and Holland. The match in Holland was sickening, as we should have had a penalty, and Kouman should have been sent off, but no, we wasted the free kick, and then later HE scored the winning goal. We were even losing in a match against San Marino at one time, and though we eventually won the match, it shows how bad we were.
A new manager brought new hope. Terry Venables took over for the build up to Euro 96, taking place at home, here in England. We also had a great song for the tournament too. Three Lions. Great song, which, strangely, the Germans seem to have adopted.
Our first match was uninspirational. A 1-1 draw with Switzerland. At least we didn't get beaten, I thought, but was less certain about our chances after this game. Next we took on the Stots, and anything could happen in these matches. We scored first, deservedly, but gave away a penalty. Gary McAllister stepped up to take it. Apparently the ball rolled slightly before he kicked it, for which I remember Uri Gellar taking credit. Anyway, David Seaman saved it (I personally put it down to his socks which lookedlikea tube of Refresher's). We went straight up the other end, Gazza got hold of the ball, chipped it over Colin 'Worzel Gummage' Hendry. and beat the keeper with ease. 2-0. Fantastic stuff, but our toughest test was still to come.
Holland are always amogst the favourites, no matter which tournament they play in, so none of us were expecting quite what we got. In one of the best performances I can remember us ever producing we tore them to pieces, winning 4-1. Two goals each for Shearer and Sheringham had put us in the quater-finals against the eternal under-achievers, Spain.
The Spain match was a tough one. We failed to reproduce the form from the match against the Dutch, and for long periods Spain were the better team. We held out for a 0-0 draw, and the match went to penalties. The stand out point from this shoot out wasn't a miss, but the way that Stuart Pearce buried the demons of Italia 90 by firing one into the back of the net. I'll never forget the look on his face when he stood screaming at the crowd with joy.
But with one ghost buried, another had to rise. Yep, it was the Germans again in the semi-final. We scored first, really early on, Alan Shearer, I believe. It looked for a long time that we'd score again, but that goal never came. Instead the Germans managed to equalize. We had a gret achance to win the match too, the ball was put across the pitch, and Gazza slid in, just missing the ball by the smallest of distances. In extra time the Germans thought they'd won it too, having put the ball in the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out. It looked like luck could be on our side as the match went to penalties. This time it was Gareth Southgate that failed to score. Andreas Moller stepped up, and if he scored we were out. He didn't hesitate, no mercy, he banged it in. Then he went up to the crowd, with his hands on his hips, oozing arrogance. Oh how I wish he had missed.
That was the tournament over for me. I watched part of the final, cheering on the Czech's against the German's, but it wasn't to be. Germany took home the trophy.
Worse was to follow, Terry Venables couldn't continue as manager. Glen Hoddle replaced him, and did a great job in the World Cup qualifiers. Despite losing a home match against Italy, we still managed to top the group and gain automatic qualification for the World Cup in 1998 in France.
We were placed in a reasonable group, playing Tunisia, Romania and Columbia. We beat the Tunisians with relative ease, goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes did the job. The Romania game wasn't so good though, we went a goal down, and just couldn't get back into the game. Well, not until Owen came onto the pitch to equalize. "Only one team can win this now" said Kevin Keegan from the commentary box. He meant England, but was wrong, when Romania got the winner mere seconds later. I was at Glastonbury, so missed the Columbia match, though was pleased to hear that he had gotten a 2-1 win, and better still David Beckham had scored. We were in the second round.
Argentina were our opponents, and it was a great match, well for a while.Owen scored a fantastic goal, but then Beckham got sent off. We still played well, I remember, and even had a goal disallowed from Sol Cambell. Had we have had 11 men, I reckon we would have won that match, but no, that wasn't the case. It went to penalties, and yet again we failed. It was David Batty that missed this one. Kevin Keegan was again in the commentary box "Will he score?" he was asked "Yes" replied Kevin. Poor guy was made to look a fool as a commentator.
Still, he would have been better off to stay as a commentator than actually taking the England job. Glen Hoddle was replaced for quoting the Bible. Unfortunately, it seems to be wrong to quote the nasty bits from the Bible, and what he said was taken way out of context, and we needed a new manager, again. Keegan left Fulham to take the job, and he certainly talked the talk. I was pleased with his appointment, pointing to his success with Newcastle, he'd turned them into an entertaining team. One who didn't win anything, true, but entertaining none the less. Even though we didn't have any great results in qualifying we scrapped into a play-off. Over two legs we beat the Scots 2-1, we won 2-0 up there, much to my joy, but lost at home, which I thougt was terrible. We were in the European Championships in Holland and Belgium, yes, but we'd lost at home to Scotland.
Results leading up to the tournament were disapointing, we scrapped a 2-1 win against Malta, but I was still hopeful for Euro 2000. It was quite a tough group we were in, with Portugal, Germany and Romania. We got of to a blinding start. 2-0 up against Portugal in 20 minutes. I was over the moon! I saw Figo with the ball in midfield. "Close him down" I urged, but no, he had the chance to shoot, and scored a blinder. After the break we lost a couple more goals, and lost the match 3-2. It was apparent that Keegan was lacking when it came to having to make changes. Portugal had changed after going 2-0 down, and Keegan couldn't counter it.
Germany were next. We hadn't beaten them in a tournament since 1966, so it was a big match. It wasn't a particularly great match, but Shearer got the winner. Germany had so many chances to equalize, but I reckon the people in the pubs all around the nation managed to will the ball away from the goal. We'd beaten the Germans, and all seemed good in the world for England fans again, but we should have been ready for another kick in the teeth.
Romania were'nt performing well in the tournament at all, they had quite an old squad, and people were saying they were past it. We were in a qualifying position right until the last minute, when we gave away a penalty. Another 3-2 defeat, and home early. More major tournament disappointment.
After losing hisfirst qualifying match at home to Germany, Keegan quit. I mad mixed feelings, I still think he's a good manager, but it did seem that he wasn't the man for the job. Along came Sven, who in all honesty I didn't know much about. People thought we might struggle to make the runner's up spot in the group, but Sven made us believe again. Beckham was made captain, and started performing at a level better than ever before. We started winning games again. We all know what happened in Germany, and we were on top of the world again. With England there's always a kick in the teeth, but not this time. Losing to Greece, at home, it looked like we'd have to settle for the play-off place after all. With the last kick of the game though, Beckham equalized. We were back on top. I screamed at my children, no doubt scaring them, btu I couldn't help it, we were there, without having to face Ukraine in a play off.
So here we are now, just 6 weeks away from the start of the World Cup in Korea and Japan. As an England fan I'm ever optimistic. On our day I reckon we can beat anyone, we've just got to play with more consistency. With England we may well beat Argentina, but lose out to Nigeria. Looking back at the past, you don't know what to expect. I don't realistically see us winning the whole thing, what I'd love to see would be strong performances in every match. Every player doing the best he can. If we do that, and still get beaten, can we really complain?
What really got me into football was when Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990. I don't remember any of the group games, I don't know if I watched them or not, I seem to remember us scoring late on with a header against Egypt to put us in the knock-out stages but it's not a clear memory.
The only thing I remember about the Belgium match is Platt's goal. It was the quarter final against Cameroon that really sticks with me. I clearly remember the build up to the match, some BBC presenter speaking to a witch doctor from Cameroon who predicted a 2-1 win for Cameroon. Cameroon had been the surprise team of the competition, beating the holders Argentina in their first game and lighting up the tournament with the goals of Roger Miller, and their exciting attacking play. I remember us being 2-1 behind in the second half, and remembered the witch doctor's words. I was still thinking about him when Cameroon conceded a penalty, which Gary Linekar scored with only a couple of minutes left. This took the match into extra time, and another penalty won it for us. It saw so incredibly exciting, and I was hooked on football from this moment on. I thought we'd win the tournament from here, no doubt about it.
West Germany, as they were then, had different idea's though. When we went a goal down I still thought we could win it, and Gary Linekar's superb equalizer kept me believing. I remember Gazza crying when he got that yellow card. When it comes to the penalty shootout, I only remember England's misses. Stuart Pearce hitting the legs of the German keeper, and Chris Waddle blasting the ball over. I was gutted. I didn't watch the third/ fourth place play off match, and I've never really thought it was a necessary match either. No team wants to play another match so soon after getting kncked out. After being so close to the final, who cares about whether you're 3rd or 4th?
Two years later, there was Euro 1992, in Sweden. I didn't see many of the qualifying matches, though I remember beating Ireland for top place. I had a Sun pull-out for the tournement, with the headline "ENGLAND 1 GERMANY 0 - We'll meet 'em and beat 'em in the final!" I actually believed that. :-)
So we play the first game, against Denmark, who didn't even qualify, they got put into the tournament fro being runneres up to Yugoslavia, who were banned from the competition due to civil war in the country. An easy win was what I was predicting. It wasn't to be though, we were poor in front of goal, and Denmark nearly beat us. One of their players struck the post, I remember John Motson commentating "and he was turning away to celebrate the goal!". Well at least we didn't get beaten I thought. The next match was just as poor, drawing 0-0 with France. Our final match was against the hosts Sweden. "Brolin - Dahlin - Brolin! And Brolin has scored a fabulous goal!" We lost 2-1, Gary Linekar got substituted and never played for England again, and Graham Taylor became known as the Turnip. At least it wasn't Germany that won the tournament, but Denmark, who didn't even qualify. They had some really horrific injuries in the semi too! I remember Arsenal buying John Jensen on the strength of his performances in this tournament!
For an England supporter, things weren't good. We didn't make the 1994 World Cup in the USA, having been beaten by Norway and Holland. The match in Holland was sickening, as we should have had a penalty, and Kouman should have been sent off, but no, we wasted the free kick, and then later HE scored the winning goal. We were even losing in a match against San Marino at one time, and though we eventually won the match, it shows how bad we were.
A new manager brought new hope. Terry Venables took over for the build up to Euro 96, taking place at home, here in England. We also had a great song for the tournament too. Three Lions. Great song, which, strangely, the Germans seem to have adopted.
Our first match was uninspirational. A 1-1 draw with Switzerland. At least we didn't get beaten, I thought, but was less certain about our chances after this game. Next we took on the Stots, and anything could happen in these matches. We scored first, deservedly, but gave away a penalty. Gary McAllister stepped up to take it. Apparently the ball rolled slightly before he kicked it, for which I remember Uri Gellar taking credit. Anyway, David Seaman saved it (I personally put it down to his socks which lookedlikea tube of Refresher's). We went straight up the other end, Gazza got hold of the ball, chipped it over Colin 'Worzel Gummage' Hendry. and beat the keeper with ease. 2-0. Fantastic stuff, but our toughest test was still to come.
Holland are always amogst the favourites, no matter which tournament they play in, so none of us were expecting quite what we got. In one of the best performances I can remember us ever producing we tore them to pieces, winning 4-1. Two goals each for Shearer and Sheringham had put us in the quater-finals against the eternal under-achievers, Spain.
The Spain match was a tough one. We failed to reproduce the form from the match against the Dutch, and for long periods Spain were the better team. We held out for a 0-0 draw, and the match went to penalties. The stand out point from this shoot out wasn't a miss, but the way that Stuart Pearce buried the demons of Italia 90 by firing one into the back of the net. I'll never forget the look on his face when he stood screaming at the crowd with joy.
But with one ghost buried, another had to rise. Yep, it was the Germans again in the semi-final. We scored first, really early on, Alan Shearer, I believe. It looked for a long time that we'd score again, but that goal never came. Instead the Germans managed to equalize. We had a gret achance to win the match too, the ball was put across the pitch, and Gazza slid in, just missing the ball by the smallest of distances. In extra time the Germans thought they'd won it too, having put the ball in the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out. It looked like luck could be on our side as the match went to penalties. This time it was Gareth Southgate that failed to score. Andreas Moller stepped up, and if he scored we were out. He didn't hesitate, no mercy, he banged it in. Then he went up to the crowd, with his hands on his hips, oozing arrogance. Oh how I wish he had missed.
That was the tournament over for me. I watched part of the final, cheering on the Czech's against the German's, but it wasn't to be. Germany took home the trophy.
Worse was to follow, Terry Venables couldn't continue as manager. Glen Hoddle replaced him, and did a great job in the World Cup qualifiers. Despite losing a home match against Italy, we still managed to top the group and gain automatic qualification for the World Cup in 1998 in France.
We were placed in a reasonable group, playing Tunisia, Romania and Columbia. We beat the Tunisians with relative ease, goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes did the job. The Romania game wasn't so good though, we went a goal down, and just couldn't get back into the game. Well, not until Owen came onto the pitch to equalize. "Only one team can win this now" said Kevin Keegan from the commentary box. He meant England, but was wrong, when Romania got the winner mere seconds later. I was at Glastonbury, so missed the Columbia match, though was pleased to hear that he had gotten a 2-1 win, and better still David Beckham had scored. We were in the second round.
Argentina were our opponents, and it was a great match, well for a while.Owen scored a fantastic goal, but then Beckham got sent off. We still played well, I remember, and even had a goal disallowed from Sol Cambell. Had we have had 11 men, I reckon we would have won that match, but no, that wasn't the case. It went to penalties, and yet again we failed. It was David Batty that missed this one. Kevin Keegan was again in the commentary box "Will he score?" he was asked "Yes" replied Kevin. Poor guy was made to look a fool as a commentator.
Still, he would have been better off to stay as a commentator than actually taking the England job. Glen Hoddle was replaced for quoting the Bible. Unfortunately, it seems to be wrong to quote the nasty bits from the Bible, and what he said was taken way out of context, and we needed a new manager, again. Keegan left Fulham to take the job, and he certainly talked the talk. I was pleased with his appointment, pointing to his success with Newcastle, he'd turned them into an entertaining team. One who didn't win anything, true, but entertaining none the less. Even though we didn't have any great results in qualifying we scrapped into a play-off. Over two legs we beat the Scots 2-1, we won 2-0 up there, much to my joy, but lost at home, which I thougt was terrible. We were in the European Championships in Holland and Belgium, yes, but we'd lost at home to Scotland.
Results leading up to the tournament were disapointing, we scrapped a 2-1 win against Malta, but I was still hopeful for Euro 2000. It was quite a tough group we were in, with Portugal, Germany and Romania. We got of to a blinding start. 2-0 up against Portugal in 20 minutes. I was over the moon! I saw Figo with the ball in midfield. "Close him down" I urged, but no, he had the chance to shoot, and scored a blinder. After the break we lost a couple more goals, and lost the match 3-2. It was apparent that Keegan was lacking when it came to having to make changes. Portugal had changed after going 2-0 down, and Keegan couldn't counter it.
Germany were next. We hadn't beaten them in a tournament since 1966, so it was a big match. It wasn't a particularly great match, but Shearer got the winner. Germany had so many chances to equalize, but I reckon the people in the pubs all around the nation managed to will the ball away from the goal. We'd beaten the Germans, and all seemed good in the world for England fans again, but we should have been ready for another kick in the teeth.
Romania were'nt performing well in the tournament at all, they had quite an old squad, and people were saying they were past it. We were in a qualifying position right until the last minute, when we gave away a penalty. Another 3-2 defeat, and home early. More major tournament disappointment.
After losing hisfirst qualifying match at home to Germany, Keegan quit. I mad mixed feelings, I still think he's a good manager, but it did seem that he wasn't the man for the job. Along came Sven, who in all honesty I didn't know much about. People thought we might struggle to make the runner's up spot in the group, but Sven made us believe again. Beckham was made captain, and started performing at a level better than ever before. We started winning games again. We all know what happened in Germany, and we were on top of the world again. With England there's always a kick in the teeth, but not this time. Losing to Greece, at home, it looked like we'd have to settle for the play-off place after all. With the last kick of the game though, Beckham equalized. We were back on top. I screamed at my children, no doubt scaring them, btu I couldn't help it, we were there, without having to face Ukraine in a play off.
So here we are now, just 6 weeks away from the start of the World Cup in Korea and Japan. As an England fan I'm ever optimistic. On our day I reckon we can beat anyone, we've just got to play with more consistency. With England we may well beat Argentina, but lose out to Nigeria. Looking back at the past, you don't know what to expect. I don't realistically see us winning the whole thing, what I'd love to see would be strong performances in every match. Every player doing the best he can. If we do that, and still get beaten, can we really complain?