da pinup bet： Really? Has so little happened since 1996 for the England national team that we are having to look back again?
da bwin： On TV and in the press, the thoughts surrounding this year’s EUROs has been not so much about what England might achieve in 2016, but a look back at what we nearly achieved in 1996.
Which all in all, is probably the 3rd biggest highlight for England in major tournament action – we’ve routinely fallen flat on our faces since.
It says a lot when you consider that in the entire history of the England football team, the nation considers the 1966 triumph, the 1990 World Cup semi-final and the 1996 European Championship on home soil, the pinnacles of success.
It could be worse, we could be San Marino.
However, we’re not. We are meant to have invented the beautiful game and given it to the world, only for the world to give us a kicking each time we enter a major finals. We are also meant to be a real force in international football and we’ve not been anywhere near that for so long. We’re more of a whisper.
1996 was indeed so near, yet so far. A look at the team reveals quality, true leaders, one of the last capable ‘keepers and creativity that seems so sadly lacking most of the time nowadays. We had players, one in particular, that could unlock the game and make something happen. France have that with the wonderful Dimitri Payet, but whilst you see a glimpse of brilliance, it never lasts the game or evolves over subsequent matches.
It therefore speaks volumes that the nation has to go back 20 years before we can find anything of any note on which to hang our white and red, St George crossed hats on.
To put it into perspective, this is our record in a nutshell for the second most prestigious event next to the World Cup.
England didn’t enter the first competition in 1960, but have taken part in all fourteen tournaments since, failing to reach the 1964, 1972, 1976, 1984 and 2008 finals, finishing behind Croatia and Russia with Steve McClaren’s squad.
We’ve never won it – we’ve been third twice (1968 & 1996) – but overall, England have been quite dismal. Take that and add it to depressingly average, below standard World Cups and you can see why no one is claiming that we can win the trophy on this occasion.
The quality of the other teams has been higher and with perennial finalists Germany, Spain, Italy or France somewhere around the finale, England are usually watching it on TV, having checked out of their hotel some days before. Usually after a failed penalty shoot-out, as well.
1996 was exciting. Football was coming home, the nation got behind the team and after a slow start, England picked up. Once into the semi-finals, everyone knew just how close we were to another 1966. Who would of guessed that we’d go out on penalties and to the Germans? Yes, all of us. If only Gazza had a longer leg!
The buzz around each England game, the hope and expectation, a squad of very capable players that put themselves on the line, gave everything and highlighted the spirit and pride of a nation desperate for more international honours was truly inspirational and special.
Since then, we’ve not had much to cheer about despite the fact that the press have over-hyped the team’s capabilities and ambitions before being so cruelly snatched away from us – again.
When you consider rank outsiders like Denmark and Greece, there is hope for every team, but this squad of 23 isn’t exactly inspiring the nation and expectations and hopes are being played down on this occasion.
Alan Shearer said recently when asked about 1996: “Yes, we could have won it, and obviously I wish we had won it, but there are no regrets – there can’t be – just great memories. Everyone I spoke to said ‘look, we gave it everything’. When that happens, you cannot ask for any more. It was just not meant to be.”
So, when all things are considered, it is little wonder that you look back to the last highlight for England – 1996.
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