March 29, 2024


Paddy Power has launched a new social media video involving former England internationals and their false memories of winning the 1996 European Championship.

The bookmaker poked fun at the nation and its supporters, claiming that many England fans actually believe they won the competition 25 years ago, such is the nostalgia surrounding it.

Paddy Power labelled Euro 96 as “the absolute pinnacle of football” for England fans, with that nostalgia coinciding with a strong run for the country in this year’s competition.

England has reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, and face Ukraine on Saturday night for a spot in the semi-finals.

In the video, ex-England stars Teddy Sheringham, Sol Campbell and Peter Crouch, and actor Shaun Williamson – otherwise known as Barry from Eastenders – share their false tales of England winning Euro 96.

Sheringham shows off his Euro 96 winner’s medal, while Campbell recalls scoring a late goal in the final. Crouch meanwhile insists he had the hopes of the entire nation resting on his shoulders that day at Wembley, despite being just 15 years old. And actor Williamson claims he sat next to the Queen as she handed over the trophy to victorious skipper Tony Adams. All of which, of course, did not happen.

“With England playing most of their games at home this tournament, there are many similarities to Euro 96,” said Paddy Power. “So, we’ve all been hampered with tale after tale of a tournament where it didn’t actually come home at all.

“The delusion from Teddy, Sol, Peter and Shaun is laughable, but us Irish will let them believe what they want to, as long as it doesn’t actually come true this time around!”