Football finally came home to England in 1996. It had been 30 years since England won the World Cup at Wembley stadium and the whole nation was gripped with football fever. Once again England and Germany met in the semi-finals but this time it was Germany who got revenge for their 1966 defeat as they beat the host nation on penalties to reach the final. The final saw a Golden Goal decide a major tournament for the first time with Oliver Bierhoff's goal giving the Germans the trophy with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic.
The tournament was extended to 16 teams. England qualified as hosts and 15 teams joined them. There were 4 groups of 4 with the top 2 going through from each group to play in the quarter finals.
1996 Tournament Statistics
Leading Scorer (finals only)
5 goals: Alan Shearer (England)
3 goals: Jurgen Klinnsmann (Germany), Davor Suker (Croatia), Brian Laudrup (Denmark), Hristo Stoitchkov (Bulgaria)
Results
Group A
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | Points | GD |
| England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 7 | +5 |
| Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | -1 |
| Scotland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -1 |
| Switzerland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | -3 |
Group B
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | Points | GD |
| France | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | +3 |
| Spain | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | +1 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | -1 |
| Romania | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | -3 |
Group C
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | Points | GD |
| Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | +5 |
| Czech Republic | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | -1 |
| Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Russia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | -4 |
Group D
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | Points | GD |
| Portugal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 | +4 |
| Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | +1 |
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Turkey | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -5 |
| Quarter-Final | England | 0-0 (AET) England won 4-2 on penalties |
Spain |
| Quarter-Final | Netherlands | 0-0 (AET) France won 5-4 on penalties |
France |
| Quarter-Final | Germany | 2-1 | Croatia |
| Quarter-Final | Czech Republic | 1-0 | Portugal |
| Semi-Final | France | 0-0 (AET) Czech Republic won 6-5 on penalties |
Czech Republic |
| Semi-Final | England | 1-1 (AET) Germany won 6-5 on penalties |
Germany |
| Final | Germany | 2-1 (Golden Goal) | Czech Republic |
