WI England Defeated Germany in the Euro 1996 Semi-Final?

[British Republic]

In Euro 1996 England (who where also hosting the tournment) had (despite low expectations, criticism about their off-field and a disappointing performance in their fist game) managed one of their best performancs in a major international tournement by reaching the Semi-Finals (For only third time in their history and to date their final time) by beating Scotland (2-0) and the Netherlands (4-1, which is considred to be one of their all-time greatest victories in the Group Stages and defeating Spain (via Penalties after a goaless draw) in the Quarter Finals.

However to reach the final, England needed to defeat their old rivals Germany, sadly (in a repeat of of the 1990 WC Semi-Final) England ended up drawing against Germany (1-1) and like in many a international tournement England lost the Penalty Shoot-Out to Germany (Which in turn is why I consider Penalty Shoot-Outs to be thw worst aspect of football*).

But it could have been avoided, you see during Extra Time Paul Gascoigne was inches away from shooting the ball (at the goal) during an England attack. Had he scored England would have won 2-1 and thus would have faced the Czech Republic in what would have only been their 2nd final in an international tournement at Wembley (the first of course was the 1966 World Cup Final against Germany and at Wembley, which of course they won), which they may or may not have won.

So what I wanted to ask is, WI Gascoigne had scored on that attack (and put England in the final)? What would have been the butterflies of that event? What impact would it have on the England Team and English and European Football in general? What would have been the impact on popular culture?

*Especially since England where knocked out of the 1998 World Cup (Round of 16), Euro 2004 (Quarter-Finals), the 2006 World Cup (Quarter-Finals) and Euro 2012 (Quarter-Finals) though these shootouts.

 

[Archibald]

and thus would have faced the Czech Republic

and in semi-finals the Czech faced France, mostly the same team that was World Champion in '98 with Aimet Jacquet. Euro 96' was a turning point. So how about France - England in final ? that would be cool. England 1966 Wembley = France Platini's Euro 84

 

[British Republic]

and in semi-finals the Czech faced France, mostly the same team that was World Champion in '98 with Aimet Jacquet. Euro 96' was a turning point. So how about France - England in final ? that would be cool. England 1966 Wembley = France Platini's Euro 84

Well the Czech Republic beat the French in their Semi-Finals (after a goaless draw) via a Penalty Shoot-Out. Still I would agree that if France and England won their semi-finals, it would have resulted in an epic final at Wembley for sure with two sides at or near their peaks. Who do you think would have won such a final though?

 

[thevaliant]

I remember that game very well (even though I don't care much for football), as 1996 was what I always call my best summer off. I was 18, leaving school and going to Uni. I'd watched all the England and Scotland games so far (and a terrible shame Scotland didn't get out the group - I'm always a supporter of any home nation, though in order it would be ENG-WAL-NIR-SCO).

It was not Gareth Southgate's fault we lost. It was Paul Gascoigne. One less pie, one less pint and he would've got that one in.

Personally, if we'd had beaten Germany (Wasn't the Golden Goal rule in then as well? Had Gascoigne scored that would've been that) I think we could've overcome the Czechs and take only our second major trophy in an international tournament.

 

[Scotty]

The thing to know (or remember if you're old enough) is that apart from the sweet spell against the Dutch England were pretty crap throughout

a crap draw against Switzerland, we were outplayed by the Jocks for long periods, Spain battered us 0-0 and we were hanging on for grim death against the Germans

Englands luck continuing and going all the way is a footballing Sealion

;-)

 

[Archibald]

Who do you think would have won such a final though?

Was the England team made of seasoned players ?
because as of Euro '96 Jacquet was still in full rebuild mode after he took the helm in 1994, in the wake of the disaster of 1993. Everything in the Equipe de France had to be rebuild from zero. (see here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA_–_Group_6))

The French team already had Zidane, Blanc, Dechamps but was otherwise not yet the killing-machine it become in 1998 and 2000. Probably a little too young and lacking experience.
Jacquet was still learning (and having a daily boatload of shit thrown at him by every single sport journalist of France - it started in 1994 and lasted until July 1998, after that he become France God)

 

[Archibald]

Sorry to derail the thread a little, but the way France got out of the '94 World Cup is well worth a tale. As of the fall of 1993 they needed only 1 point to get qualified. They had three matches to achieve that: Romania, Israel, and Bulgaria. They more or less screwed up against Israel and Romania, so Bulgaria was their last chance.
Now fasten your seat belts

17 November 1993
France

1–2

Bulgaria
Cantona

31' Report Kostadinov

37', 90'
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 48,402

So you can see Kostadinov goaled at 90's.

Well, here's how it happened.

Minute 90's and counting. Corner for France. A bored David Ginola send the ball straight into Kostadinov feet. Kostadinov then run in the direction of the French goal. No one goes after him, because French players are convinced the match is over and qualification is them.
Kostadinov is clever, cross the field, ducks Bernard Lama, and goal. And then (only then !) the referee end the match.
Goodbye France.
That was one hell of a major clusterfuck.
Gerard Houiller (the same Gerard Houiller that later was more successsfull with Liverpool) resign in anger and shame - his head rolling in a pool of blood.
It took a month before someone accepted his job. Aimet Jacquet did it (Aimé who ? where on hell did the French Federation of Football got this guy ? he has gray hair, thick spectacles, and some terrible accent - the kind of peeople that looks like a walking caricature of a grumpy old man) and he took flak and shit on his face for the next four years. It was pathetic.

 

[British Republic]

I remember that game very well (even though I don't care much for football), as 1996 was what I always call my best summer off. I was 18, leaving school and going to Uni. I'd watched all the England and Scotland games so far (and a terrible shame Scotland didn't get out the group - I'm always a supporter of any home nation, though in order it would be ENG-WAL-NIR-SCO).

Agreed, unlike certain English and Scottish Fans, I have no problems supporting other Home Nation Teams doing well, especially if England don't qualify (and other Home Nations do) or get knocked out before other Home Nations do.

It was not Gareth Southgate's fault we lost. It was Paul Gascoigne. One less pie, one less pint and he would've got that one in.

I would agree, he had the best chance to win the game. Although to be fair he did help the team reach the Semi-Finals in the first place.

Personally, if we'd had beaten Germany (Wasn't the Golden Goal rule in then as well? Had Gascoigne scored that would've been that) I think we could've overcome the Czechs and take only our second major trophy in an international tournament.

I think it was, so if Gazza had scored then England would have won. Likewise if England did end up winning the Euros that year, beyond having two stars on all future England shirts (perhaps) what would have been the impact of this victory on English Football?

Was the England team made of seasoned players ?
because as of Euro '96 Jacquet was still in full rebuild mode after he took the helm in 1994, in the wake of the disaster of 1993. Everything in the Equipe de France had to be rebuild from zero. (see here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA_–_Group_6))
The French team already had Zidane, Blanc, Dechamps but was otherwise not yet the killing-machine it become in 1998 and 2000. Probably a little too young and lacking experience.
Jacquet was still learning (and having a daily boatload of shit thrown at him by every single sport journalist of France - it started in 1994 and lasted until July 1998, after that he become France God)

To a large extent it was, however there where some younger players such as the Neville Brothers, Jamie Redknnapp and even Sol Cambell which made it to the squad.

Likewise in other words you don't see the French winning Euro 1996 even if they do make it into the final?

 

[Archibald]

Against a seasonned England team, I think no.

 

[Brundlefly]

France vs. England would have a made one hell of a final. In midfield, a battle between Djorkaeff (pretty much the best French player at that tournament) vs. Gazza... England vs. Czech Republic would be even harder to predict. The Czech team wasn't as creative as the one in 2004, but pretty solid and compact. I remember that they were initially outplayed by Portual in the quarter finals, but their defense was very solid. I guess it would very much resemble the England vs. Switzerland opening game.

The post-tournament impacts? The Premier League was already on its inevitable road of full-on commercialisation back then. With England winning Euro '96, the 'foreign revolution' would probably be even faster. Vialli, di Matteo, Ravanelli and Zola arrived that summer, I could see more foreign players also getting attracted to the EPL. On the other hand, I could also see some English players being transferred to the Italian Serie A as a result. The Italian clubs ruled big time, and the likes of Moratti at Inter, Gori at Fiorentina and of course Berlusconi at Milan probably would have gone on a huge shopping spree, with players like Darren Anderton and Steve McManaman possibly making Serie A stints.

 

[bluecalx]

I remember that game very well (even though I don't care much for football), as 1996 was what I always call my best summer off. I was 18, leaving school and going to Uni.

Similar here, though I was two years younger. I'd just finished my GCSEs and just started being able to get served in pubs. A golden age.

 

[TehIrishSoap]

It would galvanize English domestic football and you'd see superstar foreign players move to England sooner, perhaps Roman Abramovich will be inspired to invest in Chelsea sooner. And that's before we get into what could have happened at France 1998...

 

[Archibald]

Similar here, though I was two years younger. I'd just finished my GCSEs and just started being able to get served in pubs. A golden age.

As for myself - I was 16 when France won the world championship. July 12, 1998 - only two days before Bastille day. Dear God, the country had not seen such chaos and paralysis since Mai 68 at least - three days of sheer craziness.
Every match from 1/8 onwards (Paraguay) was breathtaking. Italy (July 3), Croatia (July 8) and Brazil, finally.

Euro 2000 was even better: I was 18 and got my (successfull) baccalauréat results early July, only days before the victory against Italy.

1-0 for Italy until 48 seconds before the end, then Sylvain Wiltord come out of nowhere - 1-1. God, the faces of italian staff and players. So close. FORTY-EIGHT SECONDS.I can still remember it.
Then extra time - and then Trezeguet and le but de la mort (that was abolished thereafter).

France and Italy dueled three times in a decade: World Cup 98, 1/4 deadlocked until the very end. Euro 2000 final (see above) - and, finally, World Cup 2006 final, when Zidane headbutted the italian guy and Italy got their revenge at last. It was sheer craziness every time.

Crap, I have chills running down my spine as I type this, even twenty years later. Then there was WC 2002 (when Zidane broke his tight and the team sunk to rock bottom without him - at least fellow Senegalese students were happy !) and WC 2010 (the muntiny of the spoiled childs)... and everything went down the drain.
My father did live to see all three golden eras of French football - 1958 and Kopa, the 80's and Platini, the 90's and Zidane. Golden age, that's the word.