WITH England taking on Scotland at Wembley on Friday in their second group game of Euro 2020, thoughts have inevitably turned back to 1996, when the two sides also met in London in the group stage of the Euros.

Back then, Paul Gascoigne served up one of English football’s greatest moments, David Seaman made history by saving Gary McAllister’s penalty and, for a brief moment at least, it genuinely felt as though football was coming home…


THE BUILD UP

England’s preparations for their home Euros became mired in controversy when a pre-tournament trip to the Far East culminated in a drinking spree that was splashed across the front covers of the tabloids.

An opening 1-1 draw with Switzerland set alarm bells ringing on the field, with Kubilay Turkyilmaz’s late penalty cancelling out a goal from Alan Shearer, and there was further controversy at the start of the week leading up to the Scotland game when paparazzi shots emerged showing Teddy Sheringham, Jamie Redknapp and Sol Campbell drinking in an Essex nightclub.

England boss Terry Venables lashed out at the press, accusing them of wanting to scupper England’s chances, but he was also concerned about his side’s lack of fluency against the Swiss.

He had been toying with the idea of switching to a back three ahead of the start of tournament, and made the call to change formation a couple of days before the Scotland game.

“We had a meeting with all the staff, and he (Venables) said we could play like Holland and how they set up,” remembered Bryan Robson, England’s number two at the time, in an interview with Four Four Two. “Don Howe was a little bit nervous about it, but myself and Mike Kelly (goalkeeping coach) said, ‘Yes, we have got the players to do that’.”

The decision was made, England would line up against Scotland with Gary Neville, Tony Adams and Stuart Pearce playing as centre-halves, and with Gareth Southgate starting in a defensive-midfield position alongside Paul Ince.


THE FIRST HALF

For the opening 45 minutes, things did not really go to plan. England struggled to get any real control of the game, and if anything, it was Scotland that created the better of the half-chances.

With Southgate and Ince sitting deep, the Scots were able to limit England’s incursions into their final third to the extent that neither Shearer nor Teddy Sheringham really touched the ball in the 18-yard box. Darren Anderton and Steve McManaman were unable to break forward with any regularity in their wing-back roles, and there was even a smattering of boos from the home fans when England’s players trooped off at half-time.

“It wasn’t much of a game in the first half,” recalled Scotland midfielder Stuart McCall. “We gave as good as we got, and England fans weren’t too happy at half-time because they were big favourites.”

Something had to change, and at the half-time interval, Venables made the call that would not only alter the course of the game, but also transform the rest of England’s tournament.

Southgate moved back into the back three in place of Stuart Pearce, who did not reappear for the second half, and Jamie Redknapp came on to alter the balance of the England midfield. With Redknapp breaking forward alongside Gascoigne, the hosts immediately started asking questions of the Scottish defence.


TAKING THE LEAD

Within eight minutes of the restart, England were ahead. A slick passing move ended with Neville crossing to the back post, and Shearer headed home to claim his second goal of the tournament.

“The ball from Gary Neville from the right was a peach,” remembered the former Newcastle United captain, in an interview with UEFA. “It was a disaster for a goalkeeper, and for defenders – it was right in between them – but perfect for a forward like myself. I can’t remember who it was I nipped in front of, but there was no way I was leaving it for someone else to put in the back of the net.”

Suddenly, England were well on top, and while Sheringham failed to convert a good opportunity to double his side’s advantage, the momentum was definitely with the hosts. It seemed only a matter of time before Scotland would concede again – but then came the two-minute spell that has gone down in history.


PENALTY TIME

England had conceded a soft penalty in their opening game against the Swiss, and Scotland were also handed a lifeline when Adams slid in clumsily to bring down a headbanded Gordon Durie as the ball was delivered from the right.

McAllister stepped up to take the spot-kick, but after the ball famously moved on the spot – something psychic Uri Geller later claimed he had caused from his living room – Seaman flung himself to his right to parry the midfielder’s shot.

“The penalty save was such an important one,” said the England goalkeeper. “Because we were struggling a little bit. They were getting the upper hand in that second half. And then Gary put the ball down, I’m thinking, ‘I don’t really know where he’s going’ because I’ve faced him when he played for Leeds and he was a good penalty taker.

“As I’ve gone to my right, I’ve realised that I haven’t got time to put my hand out, so I just stuck my elbow out. Thankfully, it flew straight over the crossbar and Tony Adams came in and gave me a massive kiss.”


GAZZA’S GENIUS

Less than a minute after saving McAllister’s spot-kick, Seaman was able to launch the move that culminated in one of England’s greatest ever goals. From a free-kick in his own area, England’s keeper propelled a long ball downfield. Sheringham laid the ball off to Anderton, and he lobbed a pass into the path on an on-running Gascoigne.

Faced with Colin Hendry tracking back towards the edge of the box, Gazza lofted the ball over the Scotland defender’s head before drilling a first-time volley past Andy Goram. It was a sensational goal, sparking Gascoigne’s ‘dentist’s chair’ celebration, sending the packed Wembley crowd wild and immediately transforming Gazza from tabloid scapegoat to national hero.

“We knew what he was capable of, so we were all desperate for him to do it out on the pitch where it mattered,” said Shearer. “So for him to score the way he did was brilliant – the way he flicked it over Hendry and had the calmness to stick it in the back of the net on the volley. Then, cue the celebration, which he’d planned beforehand. It was typical Gazza, that was.”


THE AFTERMATH

Gascoigne’s winner transformed England’s campaign. With the wind in their sails, and the nation behind them, Venables’ side produced one of the country’s best-ever tournament performances as they thrashed Holland 4-1.

A quarter-final win over Spain came via penalties – with Pearce memorably vanquishing the unhappy memories of Italia 90 – but spot-kicks would prove England’s downfall after they drew 1-1 with Germany in the semi-finals, with Southgate missing the decisive penalty.