How England manager Gareth Southgate paid the penalty for Euro 96 miss

How England manager Gareth Southgate paid the penalty for Euro 96 miss
How England manager Gareth Southgate paid the penalty for Euro 96 miss

For years after his infamous penalty miss at Euro 96, Gareth Southgate was abused in the street and admitted just a fortnight ago that it was 'always going to hurt'.

The now-England manager was even accused of 'cashing in' on the incident after starring in a Pizza Hut advert making fun of it just five months later.

But what Southgate suffered appears to already be in stark contrast to the three young players who missed penalties last night in the Euro 2020 final.

For fans have been rallying around Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka on social media in the following hours after all three suffered racist abuse.

Southgate, 50, has spoken at length over the years about the dramatic miss which came at the end of the semi-final of Euro 96 against Germany at Wembley Stadium.

England manager Gareth Southgate leaves the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire this morning

England manager Gareth Southgate leaves the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire this morning

Southgate consoles Bukayo Saka after his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final last night

Southgate consoles Bukayo Saka after his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final last night

He has made clear that he felt responsible for ending the feel-good factor sweeping England at that tournament, which was the last held in England before this summer.

Most recently he said nothing could get rid of the pain, after being asked about the miss following England's win over Germany in the second round of Euro 2020.

Fans support England stars amid racist slurs 

England fans have been showing their support for Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka after all three missed penalties in last night's Euro 2020 final against England.

The trio have suffered abhorrent racist abuse on social media in the hours since the match ended. The Met Police condemned this as 'unacceptable' and said they were investigating.  

And fans rallied round the stars this morning, posting messages of support to Saka such as 'Keep your head up mate' and 'We're all behind you'.

The English FA said it was 'appalled' by the 'disgusting behaviour'.

Advertisement

He also admitted that the sight of his former England team-mates celebrating the 2-0 victory on June 29 at the same stadium caused a bit of sadness in him.

Southgate told the BBC: 'I was looking at the big screen and I saw David Seaman up there. The team-mates that played with me, I can't change that, so that's always going to hurt. 

'But what's lovely is we've given people another day to remember.'

He also revealed in 2012 how his initial thought when he missed the penalty in 1996 was for his team-mates because 'it was a great chance for them to win something'.

Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, Southgate added: 'It affected me massively afterwards and it still does to this day. Every single day now, when I walk down the street, it is always mentioned to me.

'Of course, it is annoying. When you have played for 20 years and that is the first thing people think about you, it is a bit of a downer. Some people still abuse me about it in the street.'

In November 1996, Southgate took part in a comical Pizza Hut advert alongside Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce who had also missed penalties for England against Germany at the 1990 World Cup.

The advert made fun of all three for their penalty misses, with Southgate initially wearing a paper bag over his head with eye holes cut out.

Pearce tells a waitress: 'Miss, Pizza Hut pan pizzas, unless I'm miss-taken. Thank you, miss. Come on Gareth, it only took me six years to get over it - have some pan pizza.'

Southgate then takes the bag off his head, saying: 'Thanks a lot boys, I feel much better now' - before walking into a wall as Pearce says: 'Ooh, this time he's hit the post.'

He later said in 2012: 'I wish I hadn't done it, people thought I was cashing in on it.'

Southgate missed the winning penalty in the semi-finals of the competition held in England

Southgate missed the winning penalty in the semi-finals of the competition held in England 

Pearce (right) received intense criticism for missing, just like Southgate (left) did six years later

Pearce (right) received intense criticism for missing, just like Southgate (left) did six years later

And Pearce revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail in November 2019 that he and Waddle persuaded Southgate to take part.

Southgate with his wife Alison at Wimbledon in July 2019

Southgate with his wife Alison at Wimbledon in July

read more from dailymail.....

PREV Where is everyone? Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm shop is almost deserted ... trends now
NEXT In news vacuum, rumours and concern swirl over Catherine mogaznewsen