1996 - Germany strike gold
Thursday 12 May 2016 15:56, UK
Oliver Bierhoff scored the first golden goal in international football as Germany won again.
Hosts: England
Winners: Germany
Oliver Bierhoff scored the first golden goal in international football history to give Germany a 2-1 win over Czech Republic, and a first international success after reunification.
Patrik Berger's penalty put the Czechs into the lead on the hour, but substitute Bierhoff headed the equaliser with 17 minutes remaining and needed just five minutes of sudden-death extra-time to score the deflected winner, which goalkeeper Petr Kouba could not deal with.
The tournament had 16 finalists for the first time, with quarter-finals also introduced.
But the seven knock-out games only produced nine goals, Germany scoring five of those - though they needed a penalty shoot-out against England in the semi-final.
Tournament top scorer Alan Shearer headed the hosts into the lead barely two minutes in, but Stefan Kuntz equalised after 16 minutes.
It remained 1-1 until penalties, and after Gareth Southgate's effort was saved by Andreas Kopke, Andreas Moller capitalised to secure Germany's place in the final.
They had seen off Croatia 2-1, Matthias Sammer scoring the winner, after easing to the top of Group C - from which Czech Republic knocked out Italy and Russia.
Karel Poborsky's audacious chip was the difference against Portugal in the quarter-finals, and after a goalless semi-final against France, Kouba saved Reynald Pedros' penalty in the shoot-out to send the Czechs through.
The French had beaten Holland on penalties in their quarter-final, following another 0-0 draw, while England prevailed over Spain in identical fashion.
England had topped Group A, after victories over Scotland and Holland, who needed a play-off against Ireland to qualify, compensated for a nervy 1-1 opening draw against Switzerland.
France and Spain made it out of Group B, though Group C was much tighter - Vladimir Smicer's goal two minutes from time earned a draw for Czech Republic against Russia, and knocked out Italy on goal difference.
Portugal and Croatia knocked out holders Denmark, and goalless Turkey in Group D.
