Pearce pays the penalty

European Championship Finals
Saturday 08 June 1996
Wembley Stadium

England were denied the perfect start to Euro 96 as a late penalty, converted by Kubilay Turkyilmaz, cancelled out Alan Shearer's blistering first half strike.

With England hosting a major tournament for the first time since 1966, and parallels between the two years being drawn left, right and centre, the nation's expectations were high.

On 23 minutes they look justified as Alan Shearer latched on to a threaded ball from Paul Ince, and slammed an unstoppable shot past Pascolo in the Swiss goal.

The Blackburn striker had found the net for the first time since his brace against the USA in September 1994, and what a time it was for him to break his barren spell.

But England lived on their nerves for the rest of an opening game increasingly dominated by the Swiss.

Their worst fears were realised eight minutes from time when Stuart Pearce was penalised for handball in the area - a decision most of the English crowd felt was harsh.

Turkyilmaz equalized from the penalty spot, sending David Seaman the wrong way, and prevented England from claiming their first opening day win in a major tournament since the 1982 World Cup.