It is impossible to fight. No matter how hard we try not to worry about England during international breaks and even heading into a big tournament, we all cave at some point.
The inevitable ‘it’s coming home’ moniker always seeps in and gets you straight into your veins, and before you know it your summer consists of you being entertained and inevitably disappointed by the three lions, with nothing but an empty bank account and a quick obsolete football shirt to show for it. Funny.
Admittedly, it has been much easier to see and appreciate England since the appointment of Gareth Southgate. This does not mean, however, that there were no high scores before the West’s era. 90min has compiled 30 of England’s finest performances in major tournaments.
Rooney’s mood got better over him / Tom Jenkins / Getty Images
Stumbling out of the so-called “golden era” with hangover so as not to live up to the hype, low expectations England did well to get as far as the quarter-finals.
They also kept Portugal in check. And if Wayne Rooney had not been sent off, who knows, a 3-1 loss on penalties might never have been achieved.
Justice for Raheem / Adam Pretty / Getty Images
Still not convinced Raheem Sterling’s shot did not go in.
Ask the choice of the network used, please.
No one could stop Zidane from doing the unthinkable / Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images
Yes, the number of losses is an alarming touch. But this is England we’re talking about, remember? It’s tradition.
England were literally minutes away from recording a 1-0 win over France in Group B. The difference? A majestic double kick from Zinedine Zidane, which included an inch of perfect free kick.
Gazza dances beyond the Spaniards / Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
120 minutes and no goals from open play suggest a little snarkfest, but England fans can live with it at the expense of victory.
David Seaman played a blind and England won 4-2 from spotspark to reach the last four of the tournament in their home country. Things got serious.
England met the Soviet Union two years after becoming world champions / Evening Standard / Getty Images
Two years after the historic World Cup victory in 1966, Sir Alf Ramsay’s side edged past a well – built Soviet side to secure third place in his first appearance in the Euro.
The Soviet Union, which finished in fourth place, was quite tough when looking back, given that they ended up in third place in the playoffs after losing a coin toss to Italy with the game ending in a stalemate. Yes, a coin toss.
A steady start to a brilliant effort / Stu Forster / Getty Images
A 1-1 draw in the opening match of a tournament held in your own country gave England a rather overwhelming start in the eyes of the fans.
Positive, though. Alan Shearer was about to end an international drought with 12 games, and the score would prove solid as England continued to reach the semi-finals. Small steps.
One for the fireplace, it / Julian Finney / Getty Images
A draw to start the European Championships in 2012 would have been a decent result for England to resolve the nerves and lighten the score.
So feeling one against France actually felt like a small victory. Joleon Lescott came with the goods and went home from a free kick by Steven Gerrard. Passion.
A victory against Spain is always a solid measure of ability / Getty Images / Getty Images
Admittedly, this was a dead rubber competition. But winning a victory over Spain should always be considered a great achievement.
Trevor Brooking and Tony Woodcock capitalized when Dani only converted one of two penalties awarded to the Spaniards.
Paul Scholes Made a Peach / Ben Radford / Getty Images
A winning start to the 1998 World Cup was the perfect way to open the tournament for England.
They also did it in style. Alan Shearer led them forward, but it was Paul Scholes who stole headlines with a fine, curly effort outside the penalty area. Vintage.
England won under strange yet disappointing circumstances / Phil Cole / Getty Images
In a group consisting of England, Germany, Portugal and Romania, there was a serious outrage on the cards when it turned out that England and Germany were the ones who failed to advance to the knockout phase.
Both sides were overwhelmed, but England brought comfort to their sudden return with their only victory over Die Mannschaft.
Heartbreak / Simon Bruty / Getty Images
No, the three lions did not win and no, it did not technically come home. But the fact that England was a penalty shootout against Germany from the Euro 96 final was good enough.
Heartbreak is what made the tournament so good and the run so important. Everyone felt that loss, which is why it deserves a place on the list. England left everything out there.
Heskey was in goal / Tim de Waele / Getty Images
After the disappointment with the euro two years earlier, England looked much more secure in South Korea and Japan at the World Cup.
A 3-0 victory over Denmark in the round of 16 passed comfortably into the last eight. Emile Heskey scored at the World Cup, believe it or not, he was actually a top player in his best time.
An emotional collision for England / Doug Pensinger / Getty Images
Sure, England lost on penalties, but who cares? They took a top class from Argentina to the extreme.
Batigol, Owen, Zanetti and Shearer all on the points side. It’s a serious list of heroes.
Wrong Sport, Wayne / Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England pulled out one of their biggest suits and sailed to a convincing victory against Switzerland in the European Championships in 2004.
An 18-year-old Wayne Rooney became the youngest player to score in Euro when he nodded in the opening goal. He did okay after that.
Last minute winner ahoy / Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
Under the supervision of Gareth Southgate, a resilient and much more popular England had now started to play more appealing and confident football ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
Their opening match in Russia looked to be heading for a draw despite dominant procedures against Tunisia, before Harry Kane hit his second day in injury. Heroic.
Bryan Robson scored within a minute / Getty Images / Getty Images
It took Bryan Robson just 27 seconds to be free in the box from a throw-in and beat England to a 1-0 lead from point blank on half volley.
Gerard Soler equalized for France, but they had no chance against a resilient three lions who collected in the second half. Robson added a second before Paul Mariner joined the agent. Shock and reverence, but who cares?
Cool as you like / Martin Rose / Getty Images
Andy Carroll, who gives England the lead in one of the ugliest beats the three lions have taken on, is a telling summary of the page around the beginning of the 2010s.
Sweden rolled into a 2-1 lead, before a substitute Theo Walcott equalized and turned the match upside down. His impact was significant, but not as significant as Danny Welbeck’s rear wheel winner to make it 3-2. Sorry, we mean Dat Guy Welbz.
Have it. / Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images
Goals from Niko Kovac and Igor Tudor were not enough to upset the nerves of a star-studded England side in the group stage, with a young Rooney who flourished on the European stage.
His stay, along with goals from Scholes and Frank Lampard, saw England reach the quarter-finals. And with the squad doing as freely as it did, they certainly had the chance to go far.
Harry Maguire was among the goals / Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
After the 16-year meeting with Colombia that seriously tested the nerve of Southgate’s lions, a convincing 2-0 victory against Sweden in the quarterfinals was welcome, as well as a loud nod from Harry Maguire.
Suddenly there was a genuine faith among the troupe and everyone who watched. Winning ugly, winning pretty, this site can actually do that. West rock sales at their peak right now.
David Platt received status as a cult hero / Getty Images / Getty Images
A game that lacked goals during the best part of 120 minutes, it was a real magical moment that saw England enter the quarterfinals of Italia 90.
A deadlock saw that both sides were punished before David Platt appeared as a leading Randy Orton and volleyed the ball from nowhere and in the back of the net. Cheers for England, jumbo packs of beer to drown the grief of Belgium.
An important result / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
A double from Roger Hunt ensured that England remained undefeated in their group search at the 1966 World Cup and gave them their first victory in the tournament.
Putting two past the French was an important result in building a much-needed speed for the driving that lay ahead of them.
A little luck from an otherwise gloomy tournament for England / Dan Mullan / Getty Images
In a tournament that England fans completely push to the back of their minds (something they have to do quite often), there was a highlight that cannot be overlooked.
Locked in a 1-1 draw with Wales after a free kick by Gareth Bale that put Joe Hart’s head on the chopping block, Daniel Sturridge appeared in injury time to give England the victory and send the arena into total frenzy. Group stage madness between the two neighboring countries.
Becks pulled England through / Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images
The revenge is sweet. So cute.
Four years from being dumped by Argentina after David Beckham’s red card, the winger had rebuilt his relationship with the English media and ended the comeback arc when he fired England to victory from 12 yards in 2002. Cathartic.
Jesse Lingard got drunk Lionel Messi / Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Yes, England should have beaten Panama, but after seeing how England had navigated in group sequences in the not so distant past, anything could happen.
Seeing Southgate’s side dishes a 6-1 demolition early in Russia was the key to setting a good tone and getting the masses on the side. They’re okay, this England gang, you know. They are okay.
Eric Dier – Penal Hero / Clive Rose / Getty Images
The first match from the group and England take a penalty. Penalties. Already. Bowl traps, way of putting the nation on a knife edge.
But these penalties made the victory even sweeter. When Eric Dier made the winning space kick, that was it. No turning back. It came home. Just leave the trophy now.
Iconic / Stu Forster / Getty Images
The only thing England fans needed to make their already sweet Euro 96 run a little sweeter? Wins the tournament.
However, it is not England, so it is enough to win 2-0 in the group stage over Scotland. Paul Gascoigne at full speed. The celebration galore.
A historic victory / Central Press / Getty Images
A conflict with a phenomenal Portuguese side – which also included Eusebio – was between England and the World Cup final.
A heroic performance from the three lions saw Bobby Charlton make a move to send England to Wembley for a date with West Germany. Even an Eusebio penalty could not stop England.
Becks was still a hero at this time / GERRY PENNY / Getty Images
Glenn Hoddle’s Three Lions shot at all four when they sent Colombia to France to keep the party going and keep the World Cup dreams alive.
Goals from Darren Anderton and David Beckham ensured a meeting with Argentina in the next round, but we are not talking about that. Just sound like England won from here and that was it, if that helps.
A moment that has not yet been matched / Evening Standard / Getty Images
The most important result in English international football so far.
England had done it. World champion. A Geoff Hurst trick made history and saw England beat West Germany to win a historic first World Cup ever and the country’s only World Cup to date.
Shearer backs off a challenge / Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
This was England’s finest hour in their incredible run in 1996, when they mocked football royalty.
England rioted over the Netherlands in the group stage. There must have been something in the grain, because they were electric. Old Wembley bounced as Jordi Cruyff and Dennis Bergkamp were played completely outside the park. Maybe next time, guys.
