Euro '96

I arrived in Crete on the morning of the England Spain game on a cheap "destination on arrival" package holiday. Got allocated a Hotel in Malia which I didn't mind as i had been there in late 80s and new my way around the spot. Malia in 96 was not the hole I believe it is now although it had become a lot more commercial in 96 than it was in 88. Anyway as soon as we got to the hotel dropped the bags off and straight to the pub to watch the match. Got there just before kick off and the place was full of English lads. I went to get drinks and got talking to an English fella while queuing. When he realised I was irish he insisted on introducing me to his pal who he said was also irish. Anyway his pal was a blue nose from Portadown and I jokingly told the English fella that while we were both irish our irishness might have different meaning to each other. The Nordy fella smiled. Just before the penalties I was lighting up a smoke and the Nordy came over to me for a light and said something to me like "I'm as irish as you today, I hope these ***ts get beat". Alas they won and football was still on its journey home.

pre Madonna wrote: The memorable moments were England thumping the Dutch; Suker's goal against Denmark and Poborsky's scoop against Portugal.

Yeah, lot of good memories for the English, and Suker/Poborsky were the most memorable moments. Gazza begin inches from the cross at the end V Germany too.

Were the attendances low due to fans not travelling due to England's history of hooliganism ?

Probably cause you would have had to pay for them 

England had a great team then and as said above, none of the other major teams were at their best. They should have won it.

Sheringham offered something very different to the others and was always going to be picked. Shearer and Ferdinand were always going to be picked and Fowler was the young wildcard who seemed to be able to score every type of goal. I don't think there was much debate about the forwards.

Mick Jagger celebration from Moller

But even though they were, as you say, poxed, they could have won it. I was listening to a discussion about it the other on a podcast with England fans and they all know they were, but if Gazza doesn't break his stride they probably would have as the Czechs were a fairly poor side, in all honesty. 

And I'm just pointing out that plenty of them are aware of their patchiness, but it is unquestionably the closest they have come since '66 to winning anything and, aside from that, is generally regarded as a high point in English football culture where support for the national team didn't automatically mean shouting 'no surrender' and throwing chairs.