‘You better remember where you were watching’: 30 years on from England’s loss to Germany at Euro 96

Germany jump for joy and England stand dejected after Gareth Southgate misses his crucial penalty in a shootout for the ages at Wembley Stadium. Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images

Des Lynam ended the BBC’s coverage of that European Championship semi-final between England and Germany on Wednesday 26 June 1996 by telling viewers that they “better remember where you were watching this tonight because in 30 years’ time somebody will probably ask you”. So, 30 years on, the Guardian asked six writers if they indeed remember where, and how, they watched the game. Fair to say it was an emotional trip down memory lane …

‘I will never forget the trudge back to the tube’