Ten years ago, the suggestion that England could become serial contenders in major tournaments would have sounded laughable. The Three Lions had just been knocked out in the last 16 at Euro 2016 by Iceland, on the back of a dismal World Cup in Brazil where England finished bottom of their group, signing off with a 0-0 draw against Costa Rica for their only point.
Now, spearheaded by the brilliance of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, England firmly belong in the conversation as potential champions. Since Euro 2016, they have reached at least the semi-finals in four out of five tournaments – a record only surpassed by Argentina and France, who have World Cup and Copa America titles to show for it.
“England reach fourth semi-final in five tournaments after 2-1 extra-time win over Norway, now face Argentina.”
After England’s nail-biting 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway on Saturday – Bellingham scoring the extra-time winner – Argentina and a first meeting with Lionel Messi await in the final four. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored 11 of England’s 13 goals at the World Cup.
Even if England fall short once again, this is now a team built to compete rather than enjoy a brief dalliance with success. The song Three Lions, written by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds for Euro ’96, has long been derided outside England for its supposed arrogance. Yet it encapsulated what supporting this England team was about: “England’s gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away” – a tale of hope over lived experience.
England’s history is littered with tournament exits. After reaching the semi-finals of Euro ’68, losing 1-0 to Yugoslavia, they did not make it to the last four of another tournament until the 1990 World Cup – a wait of 22 years, during which they failed to make it to two World Cups and three European Championships. After Euro ’96, England had to wait another 22 years to reach a semi-final. In the 68 years before Russia 2018, England had only ever reached one final and three semi-finals, two of those as hosts. The ‘golden generation’ could not get beyond the quarter-finals.
Now, a record of four semi-finals in the past five tournaments is outstanding. It is time to accept that this is where England belong. We are in unprecedented times.
