WELCOME to the continuing ”ª#‎JoySports”¬ buildup ahead of UEFA EURO 2016, which kicks off on June 10 in France. The series started on May 10, and lasts until kickoff. Get ready for blasts from past Euro tournaments! Our coverage is brought to you by Pepsi.

Euro 1996 was the first European Championship to introduce the format of 16 countries competing in the final tournament. This format saw its last use in 2012 and this year, 24 teams will slug it out in France.

Fifteen teams had to go through a qualifying round to reach the final stage. That year England qualified automatically as hosts of the event.

The first round of group stages saw all the big teams qualify to the quarters as expected except Italy and defending champions Denmark. Hosts England, after a slow start put in some clinical performances along the way to set up a bitter rivalry match with Germany in the semi-finals.

In a semi-final clash with full crowd support, they would have backed themselves heavily for the title that year. Their campaign up till the semis was simply carried by a wave of patriotism and passion ever since they had beaten the mighty Netherlands 4-1 in the group stage. 

That optimism and confidence took a hit however, when Germany, England’s vanquishers in an epic 1990 World Cup semi-finals, again stood between them and the major showpiece that was the Euro trophy.

With Germany’s attack in mind, England manager Terry Venables made a change from the team that beat Spain in quarters. Phil Neville gave way to Paul Ince returning from suspension, although taking up the place in midfield.

In their very first attack, within two minutes, Ince hit the ball on the volley from 25 yards out with the German goalkeeper Andreas Kopke, having to punch it over the bar. Soon an electric atmosphere was set at Wembley and all English faithful believed that they can pull off the win as Kopke was never good with catching the ball.

Just three minutes of play had elapsed before England scored the opening goal. Gascoigne took a corner-kick and placed it towards the near post. Adams was there, beating Ziege and Sammer in the air, and connected with the ball to knock it on to Shearer, who headed it through Kopke's legs for his fifth goal in the championships.

Germany are always known for a tough fight. So a comeback was definitely on the cards and this epic clash was far from over. The Germans were not rattled after going behind and they quickly mounted attacks after attacks on the English defense led by Helmer. In typical German style of play, they dug in deep, and the passes became smoother and started keeping lot of possession like they always do.

The Germans saw the centre and the right wing as their attacking zones and the equalizer eventually did come. The swift Helmer moved forward to give the ball to Moller who continued to make ground in the English half. 

Brushing off Gasciogne easily, Andreas Moller fed the ball to Helmer who had continued his run, who in turn crossed for Kuntz to finish the excellent attacking build up.

England players felt a huge dominant force constantly charging and coming at them, and it became harder for them to keep the scoreline as it is, leave aside scoring another goal. England did have their few chances here and there. 

Darren Anderton crossing from a pass from Platt, found Shearer, but the tournament's highest goalscorer put the ball over the crossbar. Sheringham also tried to put his country ahead but Reuter stopped his shot. But the play for the next 74 minutes of regular time was fairly dominated by Germany who had taken a strong hold on the game.

Just three minutes into the first extra time and the game could have been won by England after McManaman drove the ball towards goal but Kopke saved. Next came the German’s chance when Helmer crossed to Kuntz (like the goal they scored) but the latter could not capitalise this time. It was a nerve jangling time and it got worse for the English when Kuntz headed the ball into the England net but the referee blew for a foul committed by scorer.

The Wembley crowd almost gasped a sigh of relief with the referee’s decision. The last attack of the extra time saw Gascoigne fail to convert from a cross and the game went into penalty shootout.

For the second time in five days, England were in the penalty shootouts and they hoped they would have the crowd behind them in this one too. Shearer took the first penalty followed by Hassler, Platt, Strunz, Pearce, Reuter, Gascoigne, Ziege, Sheringham and Kuntz, all scored. 

That meant that all five penalties were converted by both teams and still there wasn’t much to separate the two.

And then it came in sudden death. Gareth Southgate missed from the spot for England which gave Möller a chance to seal a historic win for the Germans, and again beat the English.

He did. And England were out.

Ultimately, the Three Lions failed to win on their own turf but that did not stop the tournament from being a magical experience for their players and fans, leaving a lingering feel-good factor that has been sorely lacking for them in most major finals since.

What happened next?
Germany went on to win the final 2-1 against Czech Republic, scoring a golden goal through Oliver Bierhoff. 

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