England National Team and Bad Record
The England national team played its first international match on November 30, 1872, against Scotland at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow. The match ended in a goalless draw, but that moment marked the beginning of a long history of international football. England then participated in various early tournaments such as the British Home Championship (started in 1883) and became a founding member of FIFA in 1904, although they withdrew due to differences with world football authorities.
England's peak was at the 1966 World Cup, in which they hosted the competition. Under Sir Alf Ramsey and captain Bobby Moore, England dominated and defeated West Germany 4–2 in the final at Wembley. Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick, establishing himself as the only player to do so in a World Cup final to date. His controversial goal, which bounced off the crossbar and was awarded, was the deciding factor. At that time, the world saw England as a nation that had finally asserted its status as the creators and rulers of football.
After that historic night, bad luck struck England. Their journey turned into a long wait. Since 1966, the Three Lions have not won a major tournament. They reached the semifinals of the 1990 World Cup, Euro 1996, and the 2018 World Cup, but were each eliminated in tragic fashion, particularly on penalties, a major trauma for the English public.
The England national team is a reflection of both the hopes and the long-standing wounds of the country's football. Every major tournament is tinged with optimism, with the "Three Lions" song blaring from pubs and stadiums, and the belief that "football is coming home." This optimism echoes the spirit of the modern football revolution that began in England. However, football did return home, only to pick up its bags and leave again. Despite being known as the creators of the modern game, England has struggled to assert its dominance on the international stage. The World Cup is their only major trophy. This contrasts sharply with the achievements of other powerful European nations who excel at international events.
Dark era
Another dismal record is that between 1990 and 2016, England were eliminated on penalties in five major tournaments, including against Germany (1990, 1996), Argentina (1998), Portugal (2004, 2006), and Italy (2012). This statistic reinforces the stigma that English players' mentality often wavers under pressure.
Furthermore, the highly competitive and congested league system often makes English players fatigued while playing for the national team. The Premier League is known for having the highest intensity in Europe, but its schedule doesn't provide a winter break like other leagues. As a result, many players arrive at major tournaments unfit. Foreign coaches such as Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello have also been frequently criticized for failing to capitalize on the immense potential of this generation.
Euro 1996: burden of expectations
The Euro 1996 tournament in England was both a golden moment and a painful heartbreak. With the popular song "Three Lions" echoing throughout the nation, the public felt it was time for football to "come home." England impressed in the group stage and eliminated Spain on penalties in the quarterfinals. However, in the semifinal against Germany, history repeated itself. Gareth Southgate missed a penalty, and England were eliminated again.
The rise of the modern era
After decades of failure, a turning point began to emerge under the leadership of Gareth Southgate, ironically the man who had missed a penalty at Euro 1996. Appointed in 2016 following the departure of Sam Allardyce, Southgate brought a fresh approach. He fostered a healthy atmosphere in the dressing room, reduced media pressure, and allowed the younger generation to develop.
The results began to show. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, England reached the semifinals for the first time since 1990. They lost to Croatia 2–1, but the team's performance was widely praised. England scored nine goals from set pieces throughout the tournament, the most in the tournament.
Two years later, at Euro 2020 (which was postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic), England reached the final for the first time in European Championship history. Playing at Wembley, they took an early lead through a Luke Shaw goal, but Italy equalized and won on penalties. Once again, England lost on penalties. Three young penalty takers, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka, missed their penalties. The incident was followed by a series of deplorable online racist attacks. Southgate quickly defended his players, demonstrating strong moral leadership.
Hope of a new generation
Today's England national team boasts a squad depth rarely seen before. Up front, Harry Kane, England's all-time top scorer with 110 goals (as of 2025), is on the attack. Behind him, youngsters like Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham form the backbone of the future.
Bellingham is the first English player to win the Golden Boy Award (2023) since Rooney in 2004. He performed consistently at Borussia Dortmund and is now shining at Real Madrid. Players like him demonstrate a shift in the stigma that England is no longer confined to its domestic leagues but is beginning to export talent to Europe. This is reminiscent of the 1980s, when English players rarely pursued careers abroad.
However, even though the England squad now looks mature and modern, they still face a classic dilemma: how to channel their immense potential into trophies. Some believe England are still too cautious tactically. Southgate, despite his consistent performances, is often accused of being too defensive in big matches. England often failed to "kill off games" when leading, such as in the Euro 2020 final or the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal against France. Unfortunately, the curse seems to continue. England failed again at Euro 2024 after losing to Spain. This once again underscored the misfortunes befalling the England national team. Southgate even decided to step down as England manager afterward.
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