In the midst of England's pulsating World Cup campaign, a fascinating subplot has emerged: their rich history in major tournament semi-finals. As they gear up for their fourth World Cup semi-final, and seventh overall, against Argentina on Wednesday, memories of past encounters at this crucial stage come flooding back – both exhilarating triumphs and crushing heartbreak.
The 1966 World Cup still resonates as England's most iconic semi-final triumph, with Bobby Charlton scoring a double to down Portugal 2-1. Wembley was the venue for that unforgettable victory, which propelled the Three Lions to their sole World Cup glory. However, subsequent attempts to reach a final from this stage have often been fraught with drama and despair, particularly against German opposition.
The 1990 World Cup will be etched in fans' memories as the heart-wrenching defeat to West Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Paul Gascoigne's tears in that match epitomized the anguish of falling at this hurdle. Six years later, Euro 1996 saw history repeat itself as Germany prevailed 6-5 in the penalty shootout following another 1-1 draw, with Gareth Southgate's miss proving pivotal.
The narrative of penalty shootout woes has long haunted England, and it took until the 2020 European Championship for them to break free from this curse. Harry Kane's rebound conversion sent them into their first major tournament final in nearly six decades. Then came another semi-final victory in the 2024 European Championships, with Ollie Watkins netting a late winner against the Netherlands.
As England prepares to face Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals, they'll be acutely aware of their storied history at this juncture. While recent successes have shown they can navigate these moments successfully, the World Cup stage presents an altogether unique challenge – and a golden opportunity to forge yet another unforgettable chapter in their gripping major tournament odyssey.