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Since winning the World Cup in 1966 England have participated in 22 major tournaments. In exactly half of them they have exited at the quarter-final stage, or deeper.
That is a lot of sporting heartbreak for one country to endure and inevitably it has left an indelible imprint on the national psyche.
A popular song references how many ‘years of hurt’ has been suffered. There is a neurosis concerning penalty shoot-outs that extends coast-to-coast. There is an inherited sense that the fates conspire against the Three Lions when it matters most.
Yesterday in Atlanta, there was another seismic disappointment to add to the collection, as Thomas Tuchel’s team relinquished a goal advantage and lost out to Argentina, with a first World Cup final for sixty years in touching distance.
Once again, England must take solace where they can, and pride in performances, not least from their Ballon d’Or nominated stars Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane who scored 12 goals between them.
It is a sustained litany of near-misses that spans generations and intriguingly it all began straight after their greatest ever triumph…
1970 – A pattern begins
England travelled to Mexico as the reigning world champions and moreover, with a Ballon d’Or winner in their ranks, Sir Bobby Charlton receiving the honour ahead of Eusebio and Franz Beckenbauer in 1966.
Five months after this tournament concluded Bobby Moore finished runner-up.
Ahead of their titanic quarter-final clash with West Germany disaster struck, when England’s great goalkeeper Gordon Banks succumbed to severe food poisoning. No matter though, because a two-goal lead was attained and with just 20 minutes remaining a semi-final meeting with Italy looked probable.
That was until Ballon d’Or royalty Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller helped construct a dramatic three-goal comeback.
1986 – A cruel continuum
Another World Cup quarter-final in Mexico and again the fates frowned on England.
If Diego Maradona’s mazy and mesmerizing alchemy early in the second half has pride of place in the pantheon of all-time great goals, his opener has to be viewed as the tournament’s most infamous.
His ‘Hand of God’ was witnessed by most of the 114,580 present inside the Azteca Stadium that day, just not the referee or linesman.
A late consolation by Gary Lineker secured him the Golden Boot. Five months later, the striker finished second in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
1990 – A profound summer
The second most defining sporting summer in England’s history.
Inspired by Ballon d’Or nominee Paul Gascoigne, the Three Lions navigated a path to the last four, an adventure that seduced the country into falling back in love with football.
Their semi-final loss to West Germany on penalties had a profound effect on millions, prompting a whole industry of books, plays and documentaries to be subsequently created.
Euro ’96 – A familiar trauma
A different tournament. The same outcome. Germany in the semis. Penalties. Tears.
Hosting the competition, the English public embraced patriotism and positivity, wildly celebrating a spirited dismantling of the Netherlands, courtesy of two goals by Ballon d’Or nominee Alan Shearer.
There was widespread belief that football was ‘coming home’. There was even a heatwave.
That was until an ancient foe clinically dispatched five spot-kicks and the dream was suddenly over.
The weather turned soon after.
2002–2006 – Gold turns to brass
The emergence of England’s ‘Golden Generation’ ignited renewed hope in the 2000s that a major tournament success could be achieved.
This was a team spearheaded by Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, the last Englishman to win a Ballon d’Or.
Their midfield was energised and marshalled by Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who each finished on the Ballon d’Or podium in 2005.
There was world class talent from back to front.
Regrettably, however, these esteemed individuals failed to synch as a collective resulting in three consecutive tournament departures – two world cups and one euro championships – at the quarter-final stage.
Lowlights from these exits live long in the memory, one instigated by an audacious 35-yard free-kick from the magical boot of Ronaldinho.
The other two – unsurprisingly at this point – emanated from yet more penalty shoot-out misery.
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2018-2024 – The Southgate era
Appointed England boss in the autumn of 2016, Southgate took a holistic approach in attempting to transform the national side’s fortunes. Given his overall results, a fair view is that he succeeded, by and large.
In Russia ’18, the Three Lions reached the semi-finals, eventually undone in extra-time by Croatia.
At the 2020 Euros, on home soil, England experienced their first major final for over half a century, falling at the last hurdle to Italy.
Two years later, a Kylian Mbappe-inspired France saw them off at the quarter-final stage.
In 2024, Southgate left his position after taking his team to another final, this time narrowly beaten by a resplendent Spain.
Ballon d’Or nominees in England’s Southgate era
Jamie Vardy - 2016
Harry Kane – 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Raheem Sterling – 2019, 2021
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 2019, 2022
Mason Mount – 2021
Phil Foden – 2021, 2022, 2024
Jude Bellingham – 2023, 2024, 2025
Bukayo Saka – 2023, 2024
Declan Rice – 2024, 2025
Cole Palmer – 2024, 2025
