Archie Walters
England’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign gets underway next week, and the tournament will mark the 60th anniversary of the country’s only major footballing honour—the 1966 World Cup.
Despite boasting generations of talented players, England have continually fallen short on the biggest stage, with decades of disappointment leaving fans wondering why success has proved so elusive.
Missed Opportunities
Since Sir Alf Ramsey’s side lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley, England have failed to add to their international honours. The closest they have come was the heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final and the Euro 2024 final, where they lost 2-1 to Spain.
The 1990 World Cup semi-final defeat to West Germany and the 2018 World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia also stand out as agonizing near-misses. More often than not, England’s tournament journeys have ended in frustration, frequently undone by penalty shootouts, managerial missteps, or underwhelming performances in key moments.
The Post-1966 Decline
The years immediately following the 1966 triumph were filled with hope, but England’s early exit from the 1970 World Cup quarter-finals to West Germany signalled the start of a decline.
Worse was to come, as England failed to qualify for both the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, marking one of the darkest periods in the national team’s history. A lack of tactical evolution, combined with a reliance on ageing stars from the 1966 squad, contributed to their struggles.
The 80s and 90s: Hope and Heartbreak
The 1980s saw England return to major tournaments, with a talented squad featuring Bryan Robson and Gary Lineker. However, off-field issues including but not limited to hooliganism and the ban on English clubs from European competitions, cast a shadow over the national team.
The 1986 World Cup is best remembered for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal, which ended England’s hopes in the quarter-finals. Four years later, under Bobby Robson, England reached the semi-finals of Italia ‘90, only to suffer their first of many infamous penalty shootout defeats.
The 1990s brought about a case for renewed optimism, Euro ‘96, the first tournament to be hosted in England since the win in 1966, felt like the perfect opportunity to end 30 years of hurt. Despite having a team packed with stars, England fell at the semi-final stage—losing to Germany on penalties.
The Golden Generation and Underachievement
The early 2000s saw England field a squad brimming with world-class talent, including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes. However, a combination of tactical rigidity, managerial instability, and squad infighting meant the so-called “Golden Generation” never fulfilled its potential.
The tactical rigidity in particular, was a point of contention during the era of the “Golden Generation”. Despite having three world class midfield players in Gerrard,Lampard and Scholes, the managers insisted on playing a system which featured just two with Paul Scholes being shifted out to the left wing.
It’s not as if three midfield systems didn’t work in football as around that time period Carlo Ancelotti utilised a diamond 4-3-1-2 formation at AC Milan which saw him win two out of three UEFA Champions League finals his side appeared in.
Quarter-final exits in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups,both on penalties,highlighted England’s inability to deliver when it mattered most. To make matters worse, in 2008 England failed to even qualify for the European Championships under Steve McClaren.
The Southgate Era: Progress but No Silverware
Gareth Southgate took charge in 2016, England made noticeable strides, reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the Euro 2020 final.
However, despite the progress, the inability to win a major trophy persisted. England suffered a quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup and came agonizingly close in Euro 2024, reaching the final but losing 2-1 to Spain.
The expanded 2026 World Cup could offer the Three Lions their best chance yet. However, with Thomas Tuchel now at the helm, England enters a new era with fresh ideas and a different tactical approach. Tuchel’s proven track record at club level, including Champions League success, will bring renewed hope, but only time will tell if he can finally guide England to international glory.
A lack of tactical flexibility, squad depth issues, and questionable in-game management all played a role in England’s continued shortcomings.
New Ideas, New Belief, Same Goals
With Southgate now no longer in charge, a new era begins under Thomas Tuchel as England look to finally break their long-standing curse. With Thomas Tuchel now at the helm, England’s men’s team enters a new era with fresh ideas and a different tactical approach. Tuchel’s track record at club level, including Champions League success, will bring renewed hope, but only time will tell if he can finally guide England to international glory.
