It hits home until it wasn’t: England’s brutal eliminations since last World Cup win

For decades, England fans have chanted “It’s Coming Home” as they hope to propel the Three Lions to their first major tournament title since 1966. However, those chants have not helped, as evidenced by England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina on Wednesday.

England blew a 1-0 lead late in Wednesday’s semi-final against Argentina and gave up the game’s equalizer in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez scored the game-winner in extra time.

The loss marked just the latest heartbreak for England at a major tournament since their World Cup victory in 1966. Although the Three Lions have not returned to the World Cup final since their last victory, they have reached the final of the European Championship twice since then.

So as England suffered another heartbreaking defeat on Wednesday, here’s a look back at some of their other dramatic losses since their last World Cup win.

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Diego Maradona scored two iconic goals in the space of four minutes to eliminate England from the quarter-finals in 1986. Maradona later claimed that this goal was scored by ‘The Hand Of God’. (Photo: Archivo El Grafico/Getty Images)

England were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup thanks to one of the most controversial goals in the history of the sport. In the 51st minute, Argentine star Diego Maradona equalized the game against England with the infamous “Hand of God” goal. Four minutes later, Maradona scored another infamous goal, turning away from England’s defense to score the winner in what would later become known as the “Goal of the Century”.

England were on the verge of reaching the 1990 World Cup final before things unraveled against West Germany. After scoring the equalizer in the 80th minute, England suffered some heartbreak in extra time and penalties. Paul Gascoigne received a yellow card which would have disqualified him from playing in the final, leading to a memorable image of him in tears.

Gascoigne’s yellow card did not factor into the final result against West Germany. However, that proved to be England’s undoing as the Three Lions missed their last two penalties to go down 4-3.

A second-half red card for David Beckham left England with ten men ahead of a 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat to Argentina in 1998. (Photo: Arnold Slater/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)

Argentina were on the right side of an England heartbreak again in 1998. In the round of 16, David Beckham received a red card for a foul early in the second half. Somehow, not only were England able to keep the game level with just 10 men, but they also scored a goal in extra time that would have given them the lead. However, Sol Campbell’s potential go-ahead was called back due to a mistake on the keeper.

Argentina could win on penalties.

In 2018, the door opened for England to reach the final. England led 1-0 early in the semi-final against Croatia, but conceded a 68th-minute equalizer to force extra-time. Croatia’s Mario Mandžukić scored the match-winning goal in the 109th minute and England were unable to pull through to force a penalty.

England were given the opportunity to potentially knock out defending World Cup champions France in 2022 and put up a strong fight. Harry Kane scored a second-half penalty to level the game before France went 2-1 up in the 78th minute. Yet England had a golden opportunity to level the game when they were awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute. However, Kane was able to score from a penalty again, and completely missed the net.

For the third time since their last World Cup victory, England suffered another heartbreaking loss to Argentina at the World Cup on Wednesday. Anthony Gordon gave the Three Lions a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute, giving his side the advantage in a close game.

But some questionable tactical changes by England coach Thomas Tuchel allowed Argentina to make a comeback. Lionel Messi dished out two assists in the final minutes, including one that set up Lautaro Martínez to score the winner on a header in extra time.

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England’s penalty kick nightmare in the World Cup has also led to its exits at the European Championship. In the semi-finals of the 1996 tournament, England and Germany exchanged early goals that sent the game to penalties. Both sides made their first five penalties before Germany scored his sixth attempt and England’s Gareth Southgate was unable to score in the sixth attempt.

Darius Vassell missed a penalty in England’s loss to Portugal in 2004. (Photo: Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

England’s defeat to Portugal in the quarters of Euro 2004 was pretty ugly. It blew a 2-1 lead in the 83rd minute, but forced a penalty kick with a goal in the 115th minute. However, Portugal edged out England in penalty kicks to win 6-5 in seven rounds as David Beckham and Darius Vassell failed to score from their tries.

If Argentina has been the biggest thorn in England’s side at the World Cup, then Italy has been the biggest thorn in England’s side at the EC. It held Italy to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes in the semi-finals at Euro 2012, forcing another dramatic penalty shoot-out session. However, when Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney scored for England in penalties, Ashley Young and Ashley Cole did not score, allowing Italy to win on penalties, 4–2.

England’s loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final might be the most painful on this list. It led 1-0 early in the second minute, but Italy equalized in the 67th minute. Although England were unable to score again, they were in control during penalties. The Three Lions took a 2-1 lead through the first two rounds, but Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all failed to score from their attempts. Italy scored in two of its last three penalties and England fell short at Wembley.

Once again, England were on the brink of winning the 2024 European Championship. Cole Palmer scored the equalizer against Spain in the 73rd minute when it looked like the match would go into extra time. Just before half-time, however, Spanish star Mikel Oyarzabal scored an impressive goal to give his side a 2-1 lead en route to victory.