Tournament football and England; it’s been a journey full of high hopes but ultimately, many tears, disappointment and in recent years, penalties!
Since winning the World Cup in 1966 (pictured), there have been moments where as a country, we have enjoyed immense success and unforgettable memories.
Gordon Banks' save against Brazil in 1970, Gazza’s tears at Italia 90, Michael Owen’s wonder goal against Argentina at France 98 and the goal that never was in Bloemfontein two years ago.
Total Football looks back at England’s performances at major tournaments since the World Cup win in 1966, the highs and lows, and whether their performance met the country’s expectations.
1968: European Championships (Italy)
Stage reached: Semi-finals, finished third
England arrived at Euro 68 as world champions and took part as one of only four sides to compete at the finals, alongside hosts Italy, Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union.
It was their first ever appearance at the European Championships but a 1-0 defeat to Yugoslavia denied Alf Ramsay’s men of holding both World and European crowns.
Goals from Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst were enough to see off Soviet Union and secure third place as the hosts Italy ended up victorious.
High point: Finishing third at the first attempt.
Low point: Beaten in the semi-finals by Yugoslavia which ended the hopes of winning the trophy.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
1970: World Cup (Mexico)
Stage reached: Quarter-finals, beaten 3-2 by West Germany after extra-time
The defence of the World Cup in hot and humid Mexico began in bizarre circumstances when the captain Bobby Moore was arrested in Colombia for allegedly stealing a bracelet from a jeweller shop in Bogota. He was released on bail and the charges were later dropped.
England were drawn alongside dangerous European sides Romania and Czechoslovakia and the former champions, Brazil. A narrow victory over Romania courtesy of a Hurst goal was followed by the showdown with Brazil in Guadalajara.
The match will always be remembered for Gordon Banks sensational stop to deny Pele a certain goal from his header. Moore was at his absolute best in this match but a goal from Jarzinho was enough for the South Americans to take all three points.
An Allan Clarke penalty saw off Czechoslovakia and advanced England to the last eight and a meeting with West Germany.
Banks was taken ill with food poisoning and Peter Bonetti had to deputise in goal. First half strikes from Allan Mullery and Martin Peters opened up a 2-0 lead but a catastrophic mistake from Bonetti allowed Franz Beckenbauer’s weak shot to end up in the net.
Uwe Seeler’s header made it 2-2 and with Bobby Charlton having been mysteriously substituted by Alf Ramsay, the game fell away from the defending champions.
In extra-time, the West Germans coped better with the uncomfortable heat and another Bonetti error allowed Gerd Muller to score the winner.
England’s reign as world champions was over and a decade of alarming decline was about to begin.
High point: Gordon Banks' remarkable save, still thought by many as the greatest of all-time.
Low point: Peter Bonetti’s calamitous error to let Beckenbauer’s shot in and start the collapse against the West Germans.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
1972: European Championships (Belgium)
Failed to qualify
1974: World Cup (West Germany)
Failed to qualify
1976: European Championships (Yugoslavia)
Failed to qualify
1978: World Cup (Argentina)
Failed to qualify
1980: European Championships (Italy)
Stage reached: Group stage, finished third in Group B
After a 10 year absence from the international stage, England returned to compete at Euro 80, again held in Italy.
Ron Greenwood was manager and qualifying had been easy but expectation was low, despite having the likes of Ray Clemence, Kevin Keegan, Phil Neal and Ray Wilkins in the squad.
Wilkins scored the first goal against eventual finalists Belgium but the Belgians came back to draw 1-1. A late goal from Marco Tardelli in Turin condemned the English to defeat in Turin and despite a 2-1 triumph over Spain, a goalless draw between Italy and Belgium sent both sides into the semi-finals and eliminated England at the group stage.
High point: Leaving on a high with victory over Spain.
Low point: Holding on against the hosts for 80 minutes before Tardelli’s winner.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
1982: World Cup (Spain)
Stage reached: Second group phase, second in Group B
Back on the World Cup stage in 1982 but it was a tight squeeze in qualifying and this team under Greenwood had struggled to maintain consistency after the Euro 80 disappointment.
Expectations rose when Bryan Robson scored after only 27 seconds against the highly fancied French, as England won 3-1 in Bilbao.
Further wins over Czechoslovakia (2-0) and Kuwait (1-0) took England into the second group phase with maximum points and alongside Brazil, made everyone sit up and take notice.
That’s where the delight ended as tame 0-0 draws in the next phase with West Germany and hosts Spain saw England finish on two points and going home disappointingly before the semi-finals.
High point: Bryan Robson’s goal after 27 seconds in the first match against France.
Low point: No goals in the second group phase, ultimately meaning an early flight home.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
1984: European Championships (France)
Failed to qualify
1986: World Cup (Mexico)
Stage reached: Quarter-finals, lost 2-1 to Argentina
The late Bobby Robson was now in charge and he guided England to a respectable campaign in Mexico 1986.
It threatened to go disastrously wrong after the first two games. Defeat to Portugal was followed by a 0-0 draw with Morocco.
Skipper Robson was forced out of the finals in this match with a shoulder injury, then a ridiculous red card for vice captain Ray Wilkins ultimately ended his international career.
Victory was essential against Poland, who had finished third four years earlier. A breathtaking performance from Gary Lineker saw him tear the Poles apart, bagging a first half hat-trick. The 3-0 result was followed by another brace from Lineker in a convincing 3-0 win over Paraguay in the last 16.
The quarter-finals pitted England up against Argentina and Diego Maradona. Ten minutes into the second half, the game was delicately balanced at 0-0 when Maradona punched the ball into the net in the famous ‘Hand of God’ incident.
Moments later, Diego dribbled almost the length of the pitch, leaving five England players for dead before rounding Shilton to score the ‘Goal of the Century’ according to a poll conducted by FIFA in 2002.
Lineker pulled a goal back to ensure he finished as top scorer but Argentina won 2-1 and went onto triumph in the final. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the team but pride had been restored after too many unpredictable years.
High point: Gary Lineker’s first-half hat-trick to dismantle Poland and keep England in the World Cup.
Low point: The ‘Hand of God’ goal, a cruel and illegal way for the team to go out of the competition.
VERDICT: Met expectations.
1988: European Championships (West Germany)
Stage reached: Group stage
England arrived at the 1988 European Championships full of confidence and amongst one of the favourites, along with hosts West Germany and Holland. They left having recorded their worst performance ever in this tournament, losing every single game.
It started badly with a shock 1-0 defeat to debutants, the Republic of Ireland. This was despite dominating most of the game. A looping header from Ray Houghton settled the match in Stuttgart.
Elimination followed at the hands of Holland, with the talismanic Marco van Basten scoring a wonderful hat-trick in a 3-1 win. A 3-1 defeat to the Soviet Union finished the nightmare off. Tony Adams and Bryan Robson were the only goalscorers, it was a horrific performance.
High point: There wasn’t one!
Low point: Losing 1-0 to the Republic of Ireland.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
1990: World Cup (Italy)
Stage reached: Semi-finals, finished fourth after 2-1 defeat to Italy in third placed play-off
The 1990 World Cup in Italy saw defences outshine attackers - and foul play seemed to be the order of the day.
England had a memorable tournament and got so close to reaching the final on an agonising evening in Turin.
The group stage was hardly memorable. An ugly 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Cagliari was followed by a 0-0 stalemate with reigning European champions Holland. Mark Wright’s headed goal was enough to beat Egypt to ensure Bobby Robson’s team topped Group F.
Bologna was next for a heart stopping second round tie with Belgium. England had control of possession but it wasn’t until a dramatic volley from David Platt in the last minute of extra-time that got England into the last eight.
Tournament underdogs Cameroon waited in Naples and grabbed a 2-1 lead midway through the second half after a Platt header had opened the scoring. The Africans clumsy tackling handed Lineker two penalties, from which he made no mistake. Another extra-time win took England into the semi-finals for the first time since 1966.
To the match with West Germany, with England completely on top until ten minutes into the second half. Andreas Brehme’s free-kick deflected off Paul Parker and looped over Peter Shilton and into the net. With time running out, Lineker made the most of half an opportunity to smash home an equaliser.
In extra-time, a late challenge by the star of the finals, Paul Gascoigne on Thomas Berthold earned Gazza a yellow card, which would have ruled him out of the final. Cue the famous tears from the Tottenham midfielder.
In the shootout itself, Lineker, Peter Beardsley and Platt made no mistake and neither did Brehme, Lothar Matthaus and Karlheinz Riedle for Germany. Bodo Illgner guessed right to deny Stuart Pearce. Olof Thon scored past Shilton before Chris Waddle blasted his penalty in the direction of Luton Airport! Heartbreakingly, England’s journey was over and Robson left to takeover at Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.
However, Italia 90 had been a journey and the players returned to a huge reception of delirium. After the 1980s traumas on the international scene, combined with the tragedies of Heysel, Bradford and Hillsborough, the World Cup had made people proud to get behind English football again.
High point: David Platt’s 120th minute winner against Belgium in the second round.
Low point: The ugly 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
VERDICT: Met expectations.
1992: European Championships (Sweden)
Stage reached: Group stage
Former Wolves manager Graham Taylor had taken over the reins after Italia 90 and England were drawn in Group A of the 1992 championships, along with favourites France, hosts Sweden and late entrants Denmark.
It was a team that lacked international quality. The likes of Neil Webb, Keith Curle and Carlton Palmer were selected and Taylor’s approach of defensive football turned out to be very negative.
Two awful 0-0 draws with Denmark and France at least kept England with a chance of progressing but that went with an uncomfortable evening in Solna against the hosts.
David Platt put the Three Lions infront after three minutes, before Johnny Ekstrom equalised and a brilliant goal from Tomas Brolin put England out.
Taylor’s decision to substitute Gary Lineker before the second Swedish strike would go on to have dire consequences for his remaining days as England manager.
High point: None.
Low point: Graham Taylor’s baffling decision to substitute Gary Lineker in the Sweden match.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
1994: World Cup (USA)
Failed to qualify
1996: European Championships (England)
Stage reached: Semi-finals drew 1-1 with Germany, beaten 6-5 on penalties.
Terry Venables had been manager following failure to qualify for USA 94 and this was the year when ‘Football came home.’
The country got right behind England and a run to the semi-finals made us all feel proud to be English again.
A flat 1-1 draw in the tournament opener with Switzerland preceded a famous 2-0 success over Scotland, made special for Paul Gascoigne’s sensational second goal and the 4-1 thrashing of Holland when the Shearer/Sheringham combination looked untouchable.
The last eight brought Spain to Wembley, who were unlucky not to win in normal time. In the shootout, Stuart Pearce earnt redemption for the World Cup of 1990 and David Seaman saved from defender Nadal to ensure England progressed. To date, it is the only penalty shootout victory the country has experienced.
An early Shearer header (his 5th of the tournament) gave England the perfect start in the semi-final before Stefan Kuntz equalised for Germany 12 minutes later. Gascoigne and Darren Anderton missed golden opportunities and after two hours of pulsating drama, it went to penalties again.
The first five penalty takers were faultless for both teams but Gareth Southgate’s sudden death kick was tame and saved by Andreas Kopke. Andy Moller scored the German penalty to send them into the final. Venables left and Southgate became famous for doing Pizza Hut commercials with Pearce and Waddle.
So close, yet so far once again.
High point: Thrashing Holland 4-1 at Wembley in one of the great England performances.
Low point: Gareth Southgate’s penalty is saved, when it looked so good for the hosts.
VERDICT: Met expectations.
1998: World Cup (France)
Stage reached: Second round, drew 2-2 with Argentina, beaten 4-3 on penalties
Former player Glenn Hoddle took England to France 98 but it was another World Cup where expectations fell short.
Hoddle’s decision to leave Paul Gascoigne out of his 22-man squad raised many eyebrows, as did his inclusion of 18-year-old sensation Michael Owen.
Owen’s stock rose highest especially when he came off the bench and scored against Romania in Toulouse. A last minute goal from Dan Petrescu however won the match for the Eastern Europeans.
Victories over Tunisia and Colombia took England through as runners-up in Group G and this meant a match with old rivals, Argentina. It was a belting match in St. Etienne.
Gabriel Bautista and Alan Shearer exchanged early penalties, before Owen took on half the Argentine defence, kept his balance and powered a shot past Carlos Roa. It was the moment a boy became a man.
Javier Zanetti equalised and then shortly into the second half, David Beckham petulantly kicked out at Diego Simeone. Simeone made the most of it but Beckham was rightfully sent off for his actions. Sol Campbell had a goal disallowed and following a nervy extra-time, another penalty shootout beckoned.
This time, it was Paul Ince and David Batty who came up short from 12 yards as the South Americans advanced. It was another competition that promised much but delivered so little.
High point: Michael Owen’s wonderful goal against Argentina.
Low point: David Beckham’s moment of madness in the same match, costing the team dearly.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
2000: European Championships (Holland/Belgium)
Stage reached: Group stage, finished third in Group A
Comments about disabled people led to Hoddle resigning in February 1999 following a media storm.
Kevin Keegan had a crack at international management and England made it to Euro 2000, although they had to negotiate a tricky playoff against Scotland to do so.
Drawn along with Germany, Romania and Portugal in Group A, the English started the campaign in style with Paul Scholes and Steve McManaman giving us a 2-0 lead inside 18 minutes against Portugal.
However the classier Portuguese team fought back to win 3-2 and it was the story of England’s time in Belgium.
Shearer produced a final moment of glory in his international career, with a cracking header to beat a poor German side in Charleroi and end 34 years of tournament pain.
Unfortunately it was in vain as a 3-2 defeat to Romania when needing only a point to qualify for the quarter-finals meant England’s dismal European Championship record continued.
High point: Alan Shearer’s header in Charleroi that ended 34 years of tournament pain against the Germans.
Low point: Throwing away a 2-0 lead in 18 minutes to lose 3-2 to Portugal.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
2002: World Cup (Japan/South Korea)
Stage reached: Quarter-finals, lost 2-1 to Brazil
The FA went foreign for their next appointment, with Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson chosen to end the long wait for glory.
Despite sordid details about his private life, Eriksson dealt well with the pressure and guided England to a respectable quarter-finals berth, which was as much as could be expected after a catalogue of injuries in the build-up.
The high spot was redemption for the captain, David Beckham. Four years earlier, he was portrayed as a national disgrace. Now he became a national hero when he struck the winning penalty to beat Argentina in Sapporo.
Draws with Sweden and Nigeria ensured progression from a tough looking Group F, followed by a convincing 3-0 win over Denmark in the last 16.
Michael Owen gave England the perfect start in the last eight, opening the scoring against Brazil before Rivaldo equalised on the stroke of half-time. Five minutes into the second half, Ronaldinho lobbed David Seaman from a direct free-kick and his goal was enough for Brazil to advance 2-1.
A good effort considering the humid conditions in Asia and the injuries which meant the likes of Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard had to miss out on the 2002 World Cup experience.
High point: David Beckham’s moment of redemption against Argentina from the penalty spot in Sapporo.
Low point: Ronaldinho’s free-kick which curled over David Seaman’s head and sent England home.
VERDICT: Met expectations.
2004: European Championships (Portugal)
Stage reached: Quarter-finals, drew 2-2 with Portugal, beaten 6-5 on penalties
Portugal in 2004 saw a mixture of the brilliant and the bad. The emergence of the most promising talent in Europe excited many but it was a competition that ended again in disappointment.
Drawn in Group B alongside France, Switzerland and Croatia, England’s challenge began in disastrous circumstances against the reigning champions.
1-0 up from the 39th minute after Frank Lampard’s header, David Beckham had a penalty saved by Fabien Barthez before individual mistakes allowed Zinedine Zidane to score twice in stoppage time and earn Les Bleus a lucky victory.
Rooney stole the limelight in the next two matches, scoring a brace in both games as Switzerland were brushed aside 3-0 and Croatia edged out 4-2. This set up a quarter-final with the hosts, Portugal.
Michael Owen opened the scoring inside three minutes, before Rooney had to limp out of the game with a broken foot. Eriksson’s plan to hold onto the advantage disappeared when Spurs misfit Helder Postiga headed home in the last ten minutes to take the match into extra-time.
Sol Campbell had a goal controversially chalked off in stoppage time by Swiss referee Urs Meier, leading to thousands of England supporters sending the official hatemail and death threats.
Rui Costa and Lampard exchanged goals in extra-time, meaning penalties were the order of the day once again.
Beckham’s forgettable tournament was compounded with a shocking penalty that went miles over the bar. Rui Costa missed his kick but when Darius Vassell’s lacklustre penalty was saved by Ricardo, the Portugal goalkeeper stepped up confidently to beat David James and knock England out on their bogey area once again.
High point: The emergence of Wayne Rooney.
Low point: Blowing a 1-0 advantage against France, losing 2-1 to a stoppage time double from Zinedine Zidane.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
2006: World Cup (Germany)
Stage reached: Quarter-finals, drew 0-0 with Portugal, beaten 3-1 on penalties
This was when the golden generation was meant to come good but it never gelled in Germany.
Narrow victories over Paraguay and the amateurs of Trinidad & Tobago, along with a 2-2 draw with Sweden in Cologne did see an unimpressive England top Group B.
David Beckham rolled back the years to score a decisive free-kick with was good enough to see off a stubborn Ecuador side in the last 16.
Portugal were opposition again in the last eight where Wayne Rooney was sent off for a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho. Beckham was forced off by injury on the hour and a terrible match ended goalless.
Once again, penalties beckoned and once again, it proved to be the downfall. Ricardo saved from Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and
Jamie Carragher and Cristiano Ronaldo finished England off 3-1 on penalties.
It was the end for Sven-Goran Eriksson and it ended in traditional English fashion, beaten on penalty kicks.
High point: Joe Cole’s stunning strike against Sweden in Cologne.
Low point: Taking 83 minutes to score past an amateur Trinidad & Tobago team.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
2008: European Championships (Austria/Switzerland)
Failed to qualify
2010: World Cup (South Africa)
Stage reached: Second round, lost 4-1 to Germany
So much hope after an almost perfect qualifying record, England’s superstars flopped spectacularly in South Africa.
Stand-in captain Steven Gerrard scored inside four minutes in Rustenberg against the USA but an awful error from Robert Green cost England dear as they were held to a 1-1 draw.
A dismal 0-0 draw with Algeria followed, leaving travelling supporters unimpressed and Wayne Rooney to say to a TV camera; “Nice to see your own supporters booing you.”
Needing a win over Slovenia in Port Elizabeth, a better performance saw England into the knockout stages courtesy of a Jermain Defoe strike.
A meeting with Germany in Bloemfontein was set-up.
England may have had a perfectly good goal denied when Frank Lampard’s effort was ruled out despite having crossed the line but Fabio Capello’s team were thumped 4-1 as the Germans completely outplayed and outclassed a limp England team.
High point: Steven Gerrard’s fourth minute opener against the USA in Rustenberg. It was as good as it got in South Africa.
Low point: Drawing 0-0 with Algeria and Wayne Rooney’s reaction to the result.
VERDICT: Below expectations.
South Africa 2010 was a terrible experience to watch for England fans, whether you travelled or watched the dire performances on TV.
At least Euro 2012 has matched expectations so far and when you get into the last eight, anything is possible.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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