David Wangerin explains why Euro '96 at Villa Park was a dazzling experience in the stands as much as on the pitch

It was fun, it was interesting, and it was orange. Dutch orange. What Birmingham’s inhabitants are likely to remember most vividly about their city’s participation in Euro ’96 is the number of visitors who came to town wearing tangerine. If not a replica kit (from any era), then a T-shirt, or overalls, or a big hat, or spray-painted clogs. The Dutch must have the most conspicuous fans on earth.

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Graham Ennis explains why Liverpool enjoyed playing host to fans at Euro '96

Euro ’96 comes to Liverpool, and the city, despite its reputation as the surly capital of the Northern Hemisphere, made a real effort. The streetlights were decorated, the VE Day bunting unfurled and re-hung, the price of beer was adjusted, even the litter bins were emptied. Our reward was, undoubtedly, three of the best games of the entire tournament.

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Rob Chapman reports on how Manchester responded to Euro fever

Pre-tournament whinging gets under way in earnest with the Germans deciding that the grass at their Cheshire training complex is too “knobbly” and has glass in it. The jessies. Don’t they know that sprinkling glass in the goal mouth is part of the keeper’s rite of passage round these parts?

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Colin Moneypenny reports on the activities of the FSA during Euro'96 and questions the FA's claim that the tournament was well run

“So if you’re a football player how do you decide which country to play for – is it just the one which pays the most?” This was the genuine enquiry of one American caller – clearly a distant relative of Jack Charlton and surely a future FIFA President – at the FSA London Embassy during Euro ’96. 

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What will be the lasting effect of Euro '96 on the culture of England fans?

So, the parts of England where most of the domestic trophies go finally saw some competitive international football for the first time in thirty years. England played well in a couple of games and might even have won it. Most of the visiting supporters seemed to enjoy themselves and German fans celebrated in Trafalgar Square after the Final without there being a riot. Things went so well, in fact, that the FA have announced that it intends to mount a bid for the 2006 World Cup. 

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