England's best performances at major tournaments
By Mitch Wilks
It's impossible to fight. No matter how hard we might try to not care about England during international breaks and even heading into a major tournament, we all cave at some point.
The inevitable 'it's coming home' moniker always seeps in and gets you straight in the 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being entertained and inevitably disappointed by the Three Lions, with nothing but an empty bank account and a swiftly outdated football shirt to show for it. Fun.
Admittedly, it's been much easier to watch and appreciate England since the appointment of Gareth Southgate. That doesn't mean there weren't high points before the waistcoat era, however. 90min has collated 30 of England's finer performances at major tournaments.
30. England 0-0 Portugal (2006 World Cup)
Stumbling out of the so-called 'golden era' with the hangover of failing to live up to the hype, a low expectations England did well to get as far as the quarter finals.
They kept Portugal at bay, too. And if Wayne Rooney hadn't been sent off, then who knows, perhaps a 3-1 loss on penalties would never have materialised.
29. England 1-2 Italy (2014 World Cup)
Still not convinced Raheem Sterling's shot didn't go in.
Inquest into the choice of net used, please.
28. France 2-1 England (Euro 2004)
Yes, the number of losses is a touch alarming. But this is England we're talking about, remember? It's tradition.
England were literally minutes away from recording a 1-0 victory over France in Group B. The difference? A majestic, injury time double from Zinedine Zidane, which included an inch perfect free-kick.
27. Spain 0-0 England (Euro 96)
120 minutes and no goals from open play suggests a bit of a snore-fest, but England fans can live with that at the expense of victory.
David Seaman played a blinder and England won 4-2 from spot kicks to reach the last four of the tournament in their home country. Things were getting serious.
26. England 2-0 Soviet Union (Euro 1968)
Two years on from that historic World Cup victory in 1966, Sir Alf Ramsay's side edged past a well built USSR side to secure third place in their first appearance at the Euros.
The Soviet Union finishing fourth was rather harsh looking back, considering they ended up in the third place play-off having lost a coin toss against Italy with the game ending a stalemate. Yes, a coin toss.
25. England 1-1 Switzerland (Euro 96)
A 1-1 stalemate in the opening match of a tournament held in your own country set England off to a rather underwhelming start in the eyes of fans.
Positives, though. Alan Shearer bagged to end a 12-game international drought, and the point would prove solid as England went on to reach the semi-final. Baby steps.
24. France 1-1 England (Euro 2012)
A draw to kick off Euro 2012 would've been a decent result for England to settle the nerves and ease into the points.
So to grab one against France actually felt like a small victory. Joleon Lescott came up with the goods, heading home from a Steven Gerrard free-kick. Passion.
23. Spain 1-2 England (Euro 80)
Admittedly, this one was a dead rubber contest. But getting a win over Spain should always be considered a big achievement.
Trevor Brooking and Tony Woodcock capitalised as Dani only converted one of two penalties that the Spaniards were awarded.
22. England 2-0 Tunisia (1998 World Cup)
A winning start at the 1998 World Cup was the perfect way to open the tournament for England.
They did it in style, too. Alan Shearer headed them ahead, but it was Paul Scholes who stole headlines with a fine, curled effort from outside the box. Vintage.
21. England 1-0 Germany (Euro 2000)
In a group consisting of England, Germany, Portugal and Romania, there was a severe upset on the cards when it emerged that England and Germany were the ones failing to advance to the knockout stages.
The two sides underwhelmed, but England added consolation to their sudden journey home with their only win coming against Die Mannschaft.
20. England 1-1 Germany (Euro 96)
No, the Three Lions didn't win and no, it didn't technically come home. But the fact that England were a penalty shootout against Germany away from the Euro 96 final was good enough.
The heartbreak is what made the tournament so good and the run so important. Everyone felt that loss, which is why it deserves a spot in the list. England left it all out there.
19. Denmark 0-3 England (2002 World Cup)
After the disappointment at the Euros two years earlier, England looked much more assured in South Korea and Japan at the World Cup.
A 3-0 victory over Denmark in the round of 16 saw comfortable passage into the last eight. Emile Heskey bagging goals at the World Cup, because believe it or not, he was actually a top striker in his prime.
18. Argentina 2-2 England (1998 World Cup)
Sure, England lost on penalties, but who cares? They took a top class Argentina outfit to the limit.
Batigol, Owen, Zanetti and Shearer all on the scoresheet. That's a serious roster of heroes.
17. England 3-0 Switzerland (Euro 2004)
Decked out in one of their greatest kits, Sven-Goran Eriksson's England cruised to a convincing victory against Switzerland at Euro 2004.
An 18-year-old Wayne Rooney became the youngest player to score in the Euros at the time when he headed in the opening goal. He did alright following that.
16. England 2-1 Tunisia (2018 World Cup)
Under the tutelage of Gareth Southgate, a resilient and much more likeable England had now began to play more pleasing and confident football ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
Their opening game in Russia looked to be heading for a draw despite dominating proceedings against Tunisia, before Harry Kane bagged his second of the day in injury time. Heroic.
15. England 3-1 France (1982 World Cup)
It took Bryan Robson just 27 seconds to find himself free in the box from a throw in and smash England into a 1-0 lead from point blank on the half volley.
Gerard Soler equalised for France, but they had no chance against a resilient Three Lions who rallied in the second half. Robson added a second before Paul Mariner got in on the act. Shock and awe, but who cares?
14. Sweden 2-3 England (Euro 2012)
Andy Carroll giving England the lead in one of the ugliest kits the Three Lions have donned is a telling summary of the side around the early 2010s.
Sweden strolled into a 2-1 lead, before a substitute Theo Walcott equalised and turned the game on its head. His impact was significant, but not as significant as Danny Welbeck's backheel winner to make it 3-2. Sorry, we mean Dat Guy Welbz.
13. Croatia 2-4 England (Euro 2004)
Goals from Niko Kovac and Igor Tudor weren't enough to disrupt the nerves of a star-studded England side in the group stages, with a young Rooney thriving on the European stage.
His brace, along with goals from Scholes and Frank Lampard, saw England into the quarter finals. And with the squad scoring as freely as that, surely they had the chance to go far.
12. Sweden 0-2 England (2018 World Cup)
After the heart in mouth last 16 encounter with Colombia that seriously tested the nerve of Southgate's Lions, a convincing 2-0 victory against Sweden in the quarter final was welcome, as was a towering header from Harry Maguire.
Suddenly, there was a genuine belief among the squad and everyone watching on. Winning ugly, winning pretty, this side could actually do it. Waistcoat sales at their very peak at this point.
11. England 1-0 Belgium (1990 World Cup)
A game that lacked goals for the best part of 120 minutes, it was a genuine moment of magic that saw England edge into the quarter finals at Italia 90.
A stalemate saw the two sides braced for penalties, before David Platt popped up like a prime Randy Orton, volleying the ball out of nowhere and into the back of the net. Jubilation for England, jumbo packs of beer to drown the sorrows for Belgium.
10. England 2-0 France (1966 World Cup)
A double from Roger Hunt ensured that England remained unbeaten in their group stage quest at the 1966 World Cup and gave them their first win of the tournament.
Putting two past the French was an important result in building some much needed momentum for the run that was ahead of them.
9. England 2-1 Wales (Euro 2016)
In a tournament that England fans completely shove to the back of their minds for the most part (something they have to do quite often) there was one high point that cannot be overlooked.
Locked in a 1-1 stalemate with Wales following a Gareth Bale free-kick that put Joe Hart's head on the chopping block, Daniel Sturridge popped up in injury time to give England the win and send the stadium into complete frenzy. Group stage madness between the two neighbouring nations.
8. England 1-0 Argentina (2002 World Cup)
Revenge is sweet. So sweet.
Four years on from being dumped out by Argentina following David Beckham's red card, the winger had rebuilt his relationship with the English media once again and completed the comeback arc when he fired England to victory from 12 yards in 2002. Cathartic.
7. England 6-1 Panama (2018 World Cup)
Yes England should have been beating Panama, but after watching how England had navigated group stages in the not so distant past, anything could happen.
Watching Southgate's side dish out a 6-1 demolition early on in Russia was key in setting a feel good tone and getting the masses on side. They're alright this England bunch, y'know. They're alright.
6. England 1-1 Colombia (2018 World Cup)
First game out of the group and England are taking it to penalties. Penalties. Already. Cheers fellas, way to put the nation on a knife edge.
But those penalties made the victory even sweeter. When Eric Dier scored the winning spot kick, that was it. No going back. It was coming home. Just hand the trophy over now.
5. England 2-0 Scotland (Euro 96)
The one thing England fans needed to make their already sweet Euro 96 run that bit sweeter? Winning the tournament.
That's not the England way, though, so a 2-0 group stage win over Scotland will suffice. Paul Gascoigne in full stride. Celebrations galore.
4. England 2-1 Portugal (1966 World Cup)
A clash with a phenomenal Portugal side - which also contained Eusebio - stood between England and the World Cup final.
A heroic performance from the Three Lions saw Bobby Charlton score a brace to send England to Wembley for a date with West Germany. Even a Eusebio penalty couldn't stop England.
3. England 2-0 Colombia (1998 World Cup)
Glenn Hoddle's Three Lions were firing on all fours as they dispatched of Colombia in France to keep the party going and keep World Cup dreams alive.
Goals from Darren Anderton and David Beckham ensured a date with Argentina in the next round, but we won't speak about that. Just pretend England won from here and that was that, if it helps.
2. England 4-2 West Germany (1966 World Cup)
The most important result in English international football to date.
England had done it. World champions. A Geoff Hurst hat-trick made history and saw England beat West Germany to win a historic first ever World Cup, and the country's only World Cup to date.
1. Netherlands 1-4 England (Euro 96)
This was England's finest hour in their incredible run in 1996, when they made a mockery of football royalty.
England ran riot over the Netherlands in the group stages. There must have been something in the cereal, because they were electric. Old Wembley was bouncing as the likes of Jordi Cruyff and Dennis Bergkamp were completely played off the park. Maybe next time, lads.