Since winning the World Cup in 1966, the England national team has failed to achieve any results and, despite their possession of many brilliant elements, the “Three Lions” have always been outside the circle of candidates for the coronation.
-
The England national team have failed to achieve any international results since winning the 1966 World Cup (Getty Images)
Despite the unanimity of many that England is considered the true cradle of football, recognized today by its laws and organization, the mother country has failed on several occasions to show its position, continental and international.
Since winning the World Cup in 1966, hosted by England, the “Three Lions” have failed to achieve any international results, neither at continental level, nor in the World Cup.
Despite the emergence of a number of illustrious players, who have written their names in the history records with their clubs, international tournaments have always formed the knot of the English, a good part of whom believed in the “underdog” principle , or the team that is not nominated for the titles.
History of England’s participation in the World Cup
-
The England national team won their only world title in 1966 (Getty Images)
The English Football Association is the oldest in history (it was founded in 1863), but the England national team was absent from the first 3 versions of the World Cup.
The first participation of the “Three Lions” in the World Cup dates back to the 1950 edition, which was held in Brazil, and the English national team failed to reach the knockout stage at that time.
The “Three Lions” did not take long to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, as the English managed to reach the elimination round in the 1954 edition, being eliminated by the Uruguayan national team with the score (4-2).
And the England national team remained on the right track until the 1966 edition, hosted by England, considered one of the strangest tournaments that saw two continents boycott the tournament, namely Asia and Africa, which were granted a place (half a place for every continent), as well as stealing the championship cup months before the launch and recovering thanks to the dog Pickles.
Read also .. After the 1994 World Cup .. Bergkamp became the “non-flying Dutchman”!
In that tournament, the England national team presented distinct levels to reach the final of the tournament, facing West Germany and overcoming them in the famous match at Wembley Stadium, with a score of 4-2, with the assistant referee counting a goal which modern technologies proved wrong later.
As if the illegal goal, which changed the course of the final match, turned against the English and turned into a curse, so much so that after which the “Three Lions” failed to add any international or continental titles to their coffers, and fourth place became the greatest achievement in English history after winning the 1966 edition title (England national team achieved fourth place in 1990 and 2018 editions).
England national team in Qatar 2022
-
The draw for the tournament, the England national team, was accompanied by Iran, Wales and the United States of America (AP).
The England national team managed to reach the World Cup for the 16th time in their history, having topped their group with 26 points, to enter the second group, together with Iran, Wales and the United States of America.
And although all indicators in terms of names and abilities place the England national team as a strong candidate for the top of the group and qualification for the knockout stage, the “Three Lions” team has always surprised everyone with its pale performance and biased when it came to the World Cup, although it currently has a number of Illustrious names, shining with its clubs in local and continental leagues.
Southgate… the last chance
-
The England national team, led by Southgate, took fourth place at the last edition of the 2018 World Cup in Russia (dpa)
England manager Gareth Southgate took charge of his country’s national team on 30 November 2016. Since then, the “Three Lions” have managed to regain some of their luster.
The English national team managed, under the supervision of Southgate, to reach fourth place in the 2018 edition of the World Cup, having been barely eliminated by the Croatian national team, with a score of 1-2.
The England national team also showed its abilities in the last European Championship, when it managed to reach the final, in which it was defeated by Italy on penalties.
Read also .. Pele keeps his promise .. World Cup for Brazil
The England international’s strong performance under Southgate (52) has raised the ceiling on ambitions among international supporters, some of whom believed the current manager and existing names could compete for the national team titles.
However, all hopes collided again with the bitter reality after the bad performance presented by the national team in the last European Nations League, especially after the hard defeat against the Hungarian national team, 0-4.
Although Southgate has a distinguished record with the England national team, having managed 48 wins, 14 draws and 14 defeats, in the 76 games he played for the ‘Three Lions’, the 2022 World Cup could spell the end of his international career in case of failure to achieve the desired success.
The most important players of the current national team
-
Harry Kane scored 51 goals for his country in 75 games (Getty Images)
The England national team has a number of notable players among its ranks, who can be relied upon to break the World Cup ‘curse’, which has been attached to the national team since 1966.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane is the most visible name in that group, given his distinctive skills that make him one of the most dangerous forwards who will participate in the World Cup in Qatar.
Kane, 29, has scored 51 goals for his country in 75 games, and is two goals behind the leading goalscorer in England’s history, former Manchester United player Wayne Rooney, who has scored 53 goals in 120 games.
The ‘Three Lions’ also own player, Jude Bellingham (19), who is regarded as one of the hottest young names in the midfield, and is expected to feature heavily in the tournament given his brilliant season playing for Borussia Dortmund , in Germany, where he managed to score 8 goals and provide two assists, two assists in 18 games this season.
