When supporters reflect on England's 4-1 defeat of Holland at Euro '96, which took place 18 years ago today, many will remember a demolition of one of the world's biggest football nations.
They will recall a second half which saw the hosts seemingly tear their opponents apart at will, securing their spot in the quarter-finals of the tournament in the process.
Yet, what actually occurred could have been quite different had the Dutch not spurned a catalogue of opportunities during the opening 45 minutes. Aron Winter headed over from two yards out and then moments later saw another of his efforts end with the same outcome. Dennis Bergkamp shot wide of the target and also had a powerful strike thwarted by David Seaman.
At this point, Terry Venables's men were hanging on, but they'd go on to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute. Paul Ince was brought down inside the area by Danny Blind and Alan Shearer kept his goal-a-game record going as he converted the resultant penalty past Edwin van der Sar.
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Clearly rocked as the two sets of players returned after the break, Holland fell apart. England's second goal of the contest arrived six minutes after the restart when Teddy Sheringham headed in Paul Gascoigne's corner from 10 yards out.
Sheringham then turned creator six minutes later when he shaped to shoot, but instead laid a pass into the path of an unmarked Shearer. Van der Sar raced off his line to close down the centre-forward, who lashed his shot into the roof of the Dutch net.
Not to be outdone by his strike partner, Sheringham claimed his second goal of the game just after the hour mark. Van der Sar failed to hold Darren Anderton's low shot and when the ball rebounded back into play, Sheringham reacted quickest to put England 4-0 up.
Substitute Patrick Kluivert pulled a goal back for Holland in the closing stages and although it would not change the outcome, it did carry major significance. Scotland had been advancing through to the last eight along with rivals England up until that point, but Kluivert's intervention sent the Dutch through on goal difference at the expense of the Scots.
ENGLAND: Seaman; G Neville, Southgate, Adams, Pearce; Anderton, Ince (Platt) Gascoigne, McManaman; Shearer (Barmby), Sheringham (Fowler)
HOLLAND: Van der Sar; Reiziger, Blind, De Boer (Kluivert), Bogarde; Hoekstra (Cocu), Seedorf, Winter, Witschge (De Kock), Cruyff; Bergkamp
Liam Apicella
