Close Menu
    Gareth Southgate Struggles in Aftermath of Euro '96 Penalty Miss (1996)
    World Cup 2026

    Gareth Southgate Struggles in Aftermath of Euro ’96 Penalty Miss (1996)



    “What doesn’t destroy you completely only makes you stronger.”

    On 27 June 1996, ITN’s Terry Lloyd reported on the England squad’s defeat by Germany in the semi-final of the European championships. Terry Venables spoke to the press for the last time as England manager, the previous night’s result having sealed his professional fate. But most of the attention was on Gareth Southgate, whose missed penalty had caused England to lose. Southgate told the press he felt he had let the whole country down. His feelings weren’t helped by team captain Tony Adams jokingly calling Southgate a “bleedin’ German,” adding “you know you’ve let us down.” Even Southgate’s mother, when he phoned her that night, asked him, “Why didn’t you belt it?” Venables consoled Southgate, telling him he had a week to cry before getting back in the game.

    #GarethSouthgate #Southgate #ThreeLions #30YearsOfHurt #Euros #Euro2024 #Euro96 #EuropeanChampionship #UEFA #England #ItsComingHome

    To license the footage featured in this clip, follow the link below:

    https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/film?family=editorial&phrase=BSP270696002*&sort=best

    To search the ITN Archive collection on Getty Images, follow the link below:

    https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/footage/itn

    🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest ITN Archive videos!) – https://www.youtube.com/@ITNArchive
    🎥 Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/ITNArchive
    🎥 Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ITNArchiveITNP
    🎥 Check out our TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@itnarchive1955

    View 35 Comments

    35 Comments

    2. @namrofni6236 on

      "Long years ago, Gareth Southgate made a tryst with destiny. Now the time has come when he shall redeem his pledge – not wholly or in full measure – but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, Gareth will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a footballer, long suppressed, finds utterance."

    11. @mrc391 on

      My heart goes out to Gareth for that penalty miss. It was at a time when we didn't have that many English players who have missed penalties. Now I struggle to name them all. He was twenty something. To live with that judgement and tge sense he had/others had that he had let people down. Completely wrong that someone went through that emotional turmoil for stepping up and doing his best.

    13. @rayhankhan8992 on

      In summer’s glow, on fields so green,
      Where hearts ignite and hopes are seen,
      Gareth Southgate, resolute and true,
      Guides England's fearless, valiant crew.

      Through battles fierce, with dreams held tight,
      They’ve fought with grit, they’ve shown their might.
      With every pass and every goal,
      They chase a dream, a nation's soul.

      From Kane's keen eye to Stones' strong leap,
      The lion-hearted never sleep.
      Bellingham's flair, and Foden’s flight,
      Each play with passion, each with fight.

      In Germany, their path was set,
      Through late goals scored, with no regret.
      They reached the final's golden stage,
      A new chapter in their age.

      Now Berlin waits with bated breath,
      For Spain and England’s final test.
      To lift the cup, to bring it home,
      To carve their names in ancient stone.

      Though many call for Southgate's sack,
      He leads with calm, keeps faith on track.
      For in this squad, the world’s best known,
      A fire’s aflame, a strength well-shown.

      The crowd will sing, the world will see,
      A tale of heart, of bravery.
      For in this squad, a dream’s alive,
      To play the game, to thrive, to strive.

      With Southgate’s guidance, spirits high,
      The English flag will kiss the sky.
      For now they stand on history’s brink,
      One final step, one final link.

      Oh, England’s sons, with courage bold,
      Your story new, your legends told.
      To bring it home, to make it known,
      The pride of lions, hearts of stone.

    15. @Leonardson-qi1mp on

      Strange but there seemed to be more of a party atmosphere, more joy during Euro 96 than there has ever been since even though the team was beaten in the semi final. Probably due to England being the hosts

    18. @creasicle on

      The journalist reporting this story, Terry Lloyd was killed a few years later when covering the Iraq war.
      The vehicle he was travelling in, which was clearly marked as a press vehicle, was fired on by US soldiers.
      Perhaps even more concerningly, a colleague travelling with Terry was never found and during an investigation into the incident the Royal Military Police found that video footage of the incident handed over by US forces had been edited and approximately 15 minutes of footage was removed.
      No one has ever been held to account for the killing of Terry and two other journalists he was travelling with.

    27. @AIJimmybad on

      Terry Venables asked Southgate if he'd ever taken a penalty before and he answered "Yes" what he didn't point out was that it was only one and he missed. Maybe he should have disclosed that piece of information.

    Leave A Reply