For more than 20 years, the summer of ’96 was as good as it got for England. Not purely in terms of a tournament finish – Sir Bobby Robson had inspired a semi-final appearance just six years prior – but for how supporting your country is supposed to feel. Here was a team, lampooned by the press leading up to the finals and facing selection questions all across the pitch, delivering some of the most memorable results in the nation’s history.
With Baddiel and Skinner’s quasi-national Three Lions still soundtracking the dizzying highs of England’s new era of consistent major tournament progress, it’s often forgotten that it was originally released when expectations were at their lowest...
WATCH | Why England's EURO 96 Team Was So Far Ahead Of Its Time 28 years on from the tournament, the Three Lions tactics have been studied by analytical ace Adam Clery. Here, FourFourTwo gives you the lowdown on how Venables crafted an England team that has been etched into our memories ever since..
. The build-up One of the English media’s favoured sticks with which they beat Venables in 1995 was his use of the Christmas tree formation. Ostensibly a 4-3-2-1, its lack of line-hugging wingers and two centre-forwards was seen as negative, continental claptrap by the press pack and sections of the public.
However, it hinted that Venables recognised what this England side could and couldn’t do. Primarily there was a real depth of talent in centre-midfield, with David Platt , plus P.
