England thrashed the Netherlands 4-1 in one of their most dominant Euro 96 performances. Which striker scored twice in that game?

Alan Shearer's Night at Wembley

June 18, 1996, is one of those dates that English football fans hold close. On a warm summer evening at Wembley, England didn't just beat the Netherlands — they put on a show, dismantling a Dutch side packed with world-class talent in what became the standout group-stage performance of the entire tournament.

The Man of the Moment

Alan Shearer was the focal point of England's attack that night, and he delivered in style. He opened his account from the penalty spot after Teddy Sheringham was fouled, sending the Wembley crowd into raptures. He then added a second, a composed finish that underlined just how clinical he was at his peak. Shearer had already scored against Switzerland in England's opener, so this performance confirmed he was well and truly in form and ready to carry his country's hopes.

Teddy Sheringham grabbed the other two goals, and the pair looked almost telepathic together — a partnership that Terry Venables had built with real tactical intelligence. It was end-to-end attacking football from England that had the crowd believing something special might happen on home soil.

Who Was on the Other Side?

The Dutch squad was no pushover. Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf, Clarence's Ajax teammates, Edgar Davids — these were players at or near the height of their powers. The Netherlands had won the European Championship in 1988 and were always considered contenders. That England overwhelmed them so convincingly made the result feel all the more significant.

Patrick Kluivert did pull one back late on, but by then the damage was long done. The 4-1 scoreline flattered neither side — England genuinely earned it.

Why Shearer Was So Important

At Euro 96, Shearer finished as the tournament's top scorer with five goals. He had gone through a goal drought for England before the tournament, which made his performances that summer feel like a genuine coming-of-age moment on the international stage. His physical presence, aerial ability, and penalty-box instinct made him the perfect centre-forward for Venables' system.

Just weeks after the tournament, Shearer became the most expensive footballer in the world when Newcastle United signed him from Blackburn Rovers for £15 million — a transfer that reflected exactly the kind of form he had shown that summer.

The Bigger Picture

England went on to beat Spain in the quarter-finals before falling to Germany in a heartbreaking penalty shootout in the semis. But that Netherlands game remains the high-water mark — the night everything clicked, the night England played with swagger and freedom, and the night Alan Shearer reminded everyone why he was the best striker in the country. It's the game Euro 96 fans reach for first when they close their eyes and remember what might have been.