England

England won their only World Cup on home soil at Wembley. Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in the final against West Germany — including one of the most debated goals in history (did it cross the line?) — remains England's greatest sporting moment. Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore led a disciplined, effective team that peaked at exactly the right time.

England failed to qualify in 1974 and 1978 before returning with limited success. The 1990 campaign in Italy was a brief renaissance — Paul Gascoigne's tears after a yellow card that ruled him out of the final (had England got there) became the defining image. They lost on penalties to West Germany in the semi-final, finishing fourth.

England assembled squads with Beckham, Owen, Gerrard, Lampard, Ferdinand, Terry, and Rooney — arguably the most talented generation since 1966. Yet they never passed the quarter-finals, eliminated on penalties in 1998 and 2006 and knocked out in the second round in 2010. The central issue — Gerrard and Lampard never working effectively together in midfield — became football's most analysed tactical debate.

Gareth Southgate rebuilt England around a younger, more cohesive squad. In 2018 they reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1990. In 2022 they reached the quarter-finals, losing to France. The new era features Bellingham, Saka, Foden, and Kane — the most balanced English squad in decades.