Euro 1996 was the first European Championship with 16 teams and introduced the golden goal rule in a major final, decided by Germany's Oliver Bierhoff.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 10th UEFA European Championship
- Dates
- 8 to 30 June 1996
- Total attendance
- 1,276,000
- Average attendance per game
- 41,158
- Teams in finals
- 16 (first time at this number)
- Final score
- Germany 2–1 Czech Republic (golden goal)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
UEFA expanded the European Championship from 8 to 16 finalists to broaden participation. England was chosen as the host nation. The tournament also introduced three points for a win in the group stage, reflecting changes already adopted widely across domestic football leagues during the preceding decade.
Euro 96 was held in England across eight host cities from 8 to 30 June 1996. Germany defeated the Czech Republic 2–1 in the final at Wembley Stadium, with Oliver Bierhoff scoring a golden goal in extra time to clinch victory, marking the first time a major competition was decided by this method.
Germany claimed its first major international title as a unified nation, building on two European Championship victories by West Germany before reunification. The tournament's golden goal format gained wider attention in football, and Euro 96's 16-team structure set the template for subsequent European Championship finals.
Result
at Wembley Stadium, London, England