It’s Coming Home, Until It Wasn’t: England’s Brutal Eliminations Since Last World Cup Win

For decades, England fans have sung “It’s Coming Home” as they hope to will the Three Lions to their first major tournament title since 1966. Those chants have come to no avail, though, as evidenced by England’s World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina on Wednesday. 

England blew a 1-0 lead late in Wednesday’s semifinal match against Argentina, giving up the game-tying goal 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 its World Cup win in 1966. While the Three Lions haven’t made it back to the World Cup final since their last win, they’ve reached the final of the Euros twice since then. 

So, as England went through another heartbreaking loss on Wednesday, here’s a look back at some of its other dramatic losses since its last World Cup victory. 

WORLD CUP

England was eliminated in the quarterfinals at the 1986 World Cup, thanks to one of the most controversial goals in the history of the sport. In the 51st minute, Argentina star Diego Maradona leveled the match against England with the infamous “Hand of God” goal. Four minutes later, Maradona scored another infamous goal, swerving by England’s defense to score the game-winner in what would later become known as the “Goal of the Century.” 

England was on the doorstep of reaching the World Cup final in 1990, before things unraveled against West Germany. After scoring the 80th-minute equalizer, England suffered some heartbreak in extra time and penalty kicks. Paul Gascoigne received a yellow card that would’ve disqualified him from playing in the final, leading to a memorable image of him crying.

Gascoigne’s yellow card didn’t play into the final result against West Germany. However, it became the moment of England’s loss, as the Three Lions missed their final two penalty kicks and fell, 4-3. 

Argentina was 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 he committed early in the second half. Somehow, England was not only able to keep the match level with just 10 men, but it also scored a goal in extra time that would’ve given it the lead. However, Sol Campbell’s potential go-ahead goal was called back due to a foul on the goalkeeper.

Argentina was able to prevail in penalty kicks.

In 2018, the door opened for England to reach the final. England took an early 1-0 lead in the semifinal against Croatia, but allowed a 68th-minute equalizer that forced extra time. Croatia’s Mario Mandžukić scored the game-winning goal in the 109th minute, and England wasn’t able to pull through to force penalty kicks. 

England got the opportunity to potentially knock out defending World Cup champion France in 2022, and it put up a strong fight. Harry Kane scored a penalty kick in the second half to level the match, before France took a 2-1 lead in the 78th minute. Yet, England had a golden opportunity to even the match when it was awarded a penalty kick in the 82nd minute. However, Kane was able to score on a penalty kick again, completely missing the net. 

For the third time since its last World Cup win, 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 tight match. 

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 game-winner on a header in extra time. 

EUROS

England’s penalty kick nightmares in the World Cup have also carried into its exits at the Euros. In the semis of the 1996 tournament, England and Germany exchanged early goals that set up the match to go into penalties. Both sides made their first five penalty kicks, before Germany scored on its sixth try and England’s Gareth Southgate was unable to score on the sixth try. 

England’s loss to Portugal in the quarters of the 2004 Euros was pretty wicked. It blew a 2-1 lead in the 83rd minute, but forced penalty kicks with a goal in the 115th minute. However, Portugal edged out England in penalties, winning 6-5 in seven rounds as David Beckham and Darius Vassell didn’t score on 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 its side at the Euros. It battled Italy to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes in the semis at the 2012 Euros, forcing another dramatic session of penalty kicks. But as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney scored for England in penalties, Ashley Young and Ashley Cole didn’t score, allowing Italy to win the penalties, 4-2. 

England’s loss to Italy in the final of the 2020 Euros might be its most painful on this list. It took an early 1-0 lead in the second minute, but Italy equalized in the 67th minute. While England wasn’t able to score again, it was 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 on their tries. Italy scored on two of its final three penalty kicks, and England came up short at Wembley. 

Once again, England was on the precipice of winning the Euros in 2024. Cole Palmer scored the equalizer against Spain in the 73rd minute, as it appeared the match would go into extra time. Right before stoppage time, though, Spain star Mikel Oyarzabal scored an impressive goal that gave his side a 2-1 lead en route to victory.