The Euro 2024 circus will soon roll into Germany this summer. Football bettors are analysing the nations most likely to compete to become crowned European champions.
England are one of the most iconic footballing nations in the continent, if not worldwide, but you might be shocked to know the Three Lions have never won the Euros. Below, we’ll assess England’s best performances at the Euros to date, starting with the heartache of Euro 2020 on home soil.
1. Losing Finalists at Euro 2020
England hosted Euro 2020, which was eventually staged in 2021 post-pandemic. The performance of the Three Lions delivered a roller-coaster of emotions, stirring the passion of football fans across the country. Led by Gareth Southgate, England showcased resilience, flair and youthful exuberance, which captivated fans throughout the tournament.
England’s journey to the final was marked by a string of standout moments, including some electrifying performances from Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane’s clinical goalscoring prowess and the emergence of young starlets like Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden. They safely negotiated the group stage with confidence, winning against Croatia and Czechia while drawing with near neighbours, Scotland.
As Southgate’s troops advanced to the knockout stages, England prevailed in nerve-wracking encounters against long-time rivals Germany, followed by Ukraine. Their semi-final clash with Denmark saw the team face adversity, but a collective effort saw the Three Lions land a historic 2-1 win after extra time.
England locked horns with Italy in the final at Wembley Stadium, which started brightly but ended in heartbreak. Luke Shaw fired England into an early first-half lead, but it was one they’d eventually relinquish, with the game heading towards extra time and a penalty shootout. Despite losing on penalties – once again – the team’s journey left a lasting impression, generating a sense of pride and hope for the future of English football.
2. Third-place finish at Euro 1996
England was the host nation again at Euro 1996, 30 years after the Three Lions’ last success at a major tournament – their World Cup triumph over West Germany. This tournament became a showcase for a golden generation of English footballers who should have gone on to win silverware under boss Terry Venables.
England asserted their dominance in the group stage, landing comfortable wins over Scotland and the Netherlands and a draw with Switzerland. Paul Gascoigne’s volley against the Scots and Alan Shearer’s clinical finish against the Dutch are two of this era’s most iconic England goals.
In the last eight, England were pitched against Spain, with the unpredictable Spaniards always a dangerous opponent. The cagey knockout game finished goalless after extra time, with goalkeeper David Seaman proving the hero with two impressive saves to send Wembley into raptures.
The semi-final saw England face arch-rivals Germany again at Wembley. Once again, England were taken to extra time and penalties. Ironically, the current England boss, Gareth Southgate, proved the villain. Southgate missed his spot kick, allowing Germany to fire their way to the final against Czechia.
3. Third-place finish at Euro 1968
England travelled to Italy for Euro 1968 as world champions. With the boss Alf Ramsey still in the hot seat, England made a great start to the competition in the group stage. They draw against the Soviet Union but were able to defeat hosts, Italy, as well as Romania.
England overcame Spain 3-1 on aggregate in a two-legged quarter-final, setting up a mouth-watering semi-final with Yugoslavia in Florence. The world champions suffered a shock 1-0 defeat with an 86th-minute goal from Dragan Džajić, condemning England to the third-place playoff with the Soviet Union.
The Three Lions safely navigated this playoff, with Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst scoring to clinch third place. Hosts, Italy, would go on to score their first European title, defeating the Yugoslavs 3-1 over two legs.
4. Quarter-Finalists at Euro 2004 and Euro 2012
Euro 2004 was a tournament with no shortage of upsets. The biggest of all saw Greece win the tournament and become European champions for the first time, beating hosts Portugal in a tense final.
England were expected to go deep in this competition, and spirits were high after qualifying from a group involving France and Croatia. What followed was the infamous quarter-final loss to Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo’s wink after getting Wayne Rooney sent off remains an iconic picture in European football folklore. Ten-man England forced the game to penalties but eventually lost 6-5.
After missing out on Euro 2008 qualification, the nation expected England to hit the ground running at Euro 2012. They certainly showed their intent by winning Group D, finishing about France along the way. However, the draw wasn’t kind to England again, as Roy Hodgson’s men faced a belligerent Italy in Kyiv. Following a tense, goalless encounter, it was no surprise to see the game go to extra time and penalties, where England failed once again in the last eight.
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