On 26 June 1996, Des Lynam ended the BBC's coverage of England's European Championship semi-final against Germany by telling viewers they 'better remember where you were watching this tonight because in 30 years' time somebody will probably ask you.' Now, 30 years later, the Guardian asked six writers to share their memories of that unforgettable night.
The long trudge back to the tube
One writer recalls having the match ticket and the pink underground ticket for Wembley Park. They sat above the right corner where Gazza missed in extra time and the penalties unfolded. The joy of Shearer's goal was followed by the fear it came too early. The equaliser, agonising misses, and a German 'golden goal' ruled out for a foul only the referee saw. After Southgate's miss, the near-silent trudge back to the tube was broken when they said, 'At least no one will assume we're just going to win the World Cup now.' An angry fan responded as if they had insulted Princess Diana.
Watching in France with a broken TV
A 16-year-old on a school camping trip in Brittany after GCSEs watched the match at a local venue. The owner claimed the TV broke during extra time, likely to avoid a teenage riot if England lost. They followed the penalty shootout via transistor radio back at the campsite, with a teacher translating. The writer never learned the French for 'Southgate'.
A drunken suggestion to attack the embassy
In a large hotel bar in Booterstown, Dublin, an English colleague drunkenly suggested attacking the German embassy after the shootout. The embassy was a stone's throw away. Irish friends were not unhappy to see England out, but their schadenfreude had lasted longer than usual.
Why Southgate? What about Ince, Anderton or McManaman?
A journalist who had just started in football journalism watched from a flat in west London with nine others, some of whom had watched Italia 90 together. When Gareth Southgate stepped up, nervous silence fell. Why him? The miss brought a collective groan and a long, sad walk home.
A German girlfriend and a birthday 21 years later
One writer's then girlfriend (now wife) was German, so he watched at the college bar while she stayed home with his mother. Shearer, Kuntz, Gazza, Gareth – the details were grim. Nine years later, 26 June took on new meaning when their daughter was born. She turned 21 on the 30th anniversary.
The end of the best time of my life
A 15-year-old watched at home after revising for GCSE mocks. Growing up in Wembley in summer 1996 felt like being at the centre of the football universe. They went to the Scotland game, celebrated Gazza's goal, and badly wanted England to win. The loss hurt, but now there is only fondness for that night and time. 'Don't worry Des, I remember it well.'
