Introduction

England is one of the oldest and most successful footballing nations in the world. However, their track record in the European Championships has been rather disappointing. Despite participating in 9 of the 15 tournaments played so far, England has never reached the final of the European Championships. This article delves into England's journey and how they have fared in the tournament.

Early Years

England's first appearance in the European Championship was in 1968. They reached the semi-finals where they faced Yugoslavia. A solitary goal in the 53rd minute ended England's dreams of reaching their first final. In 1972, England failed to qualify for the tournament, and in 1976, they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Yugoslavia again.

1980s and 1990s

England bowed out in the group stages of the 1980 and 1988 tournaments. In 1992, England was drawn in the same group as France, hosts Sweden, and Denmark. They finished bottom of the group, failing to win a single game, and scoring just one goal. The 1996 tournament was held in England, and there were high hopes for the national team. They made it to the semi-finals, where they faced rivals Germany. England took the lead through Alan Shearer in the third minute, but Germany equalized in the 16th minute and went on to win the match on penalties.

2000s and 2010s

In 2000, England qualified for the tournament but was knocked out in the group stages. They failed to qualify for the 2004 edition of the tournament. In 2008, England was knocked out by Croatia in the qualifying stages. England qualified for the 2012 tournament, but they lost to Italy in the quarterfinals. The 2016 edition was a disappointment for England as they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Iceland.

Current State

England has a talented squad and a manager in Gareth Southgate who has brought stability and a sense of purpose to the team. The national team has been performing well in recent years, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. Their performance in the Euro 2020 tournament has been good, and they have a great chance of reaching the final. If they can overcome Denmark in the semi-finals, it will be their first-ever appearance in the final of the European Championships.

Conclusion

England's journey in the European Championships has been full of ups and downs. They have come close to winning the tournament several times, but have always fallen short. The current team has the potential to make history and win the tournament. With the support of their fans and the talent in the squad, England has a great chance to make it to the final and end their long wait for glory.