Published on 6/16/2026
In football, moments of brokenness are often the first stage in which champions are born. After a full decade of rapid progress, England has transformed from a team that suffered the bitterness of failure in Euro 2016 to an entity that has its sights set on the podium in the 2026 World Cup.
Looking back, Euro 2016 remains etched in fans’ memories as the ‘rock bottom’. After a history full of missteps, such as failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2008, or finishing bottom of the group in the 2014 World Cup, the defeat (1-2) against Iceland in the round of 16 in France represented the greatest shock.
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At that time, a squad that included promising talents such as Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, and Jamie Vardy did not help the English team, which showed a lackluster performance against a country with a population of only 330,000 people.
Despite the bitterness of previous disappointments, such as the Euro 2012 finals and historic penalty shootout defeats between the years (1990-2006), the gap between expectations and reality that night in Nice was unprecedented. However, this misstep paved the way for a comprehensive rebuild led by Gareth Southgate, who re-implanted a culture of belief in the team’s ability to achieve glory.
World Cup 2018.. the beginning of a new era
Southgate’s first steps were to rely on the 3-5-2 formation, where Kane excelled and won the Golden Boot with 6 goals, becoming the first Englishman to achieve this since Gary Lineker in 1986.
Thanks to the effectiveness of set pieces, the team reached the semi-finals, which is the best result since the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The Colombia match in the round of 16 was a symbol of confidence, as England achieved only its second victory in its history on penalty kicks in a major tournament, beginning the phase of re-establishing the team’s position among the elite.
Euro 2020…disappointment is on the cusp
In an extraordinary tournament, postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, England reached the final for the first time since 1966, clashing with Italy. England took the lead with Luke Shaw’s goal (the fastest in the history of Euro finals after one minute and 57 seconds), before the Azzurri returned thanks to experience.
According to Opta statistics, England recorded a modest possession rate of 34.6% in that match. Kane did not make a shot or create a chance for only the second time in his career in a national team shirt. The match ended with the English losing on penalties.
World Cup 2022.. France’s harsh lesson
England started the tournament with a goal against Iran, but their draw with America was disappointing. After defeating Wales and Senegal, England faced defending champion France in the quarter-finals. Despite the good performance, Kane missed a decisive penalty kick (after scoring the equalizer from another one), and England was eliminated after losing (1-2) for the seventh time in the World Cup quarter-finals, which is a historical record in the tournament.
Euro 2024… when experience faltered
The last edition of the European Championship was the most painful, despite the strength of the squad. England suffered from attacking sterility; Opta statistics indicate that England’s average expected goals (without penalty kicks) was 0.77 goals per match, which is a low number.
In the final against Spain, despite Palmer’s goal, Kane’s statistics were completely absent; In the 181 minutes he played in the 2020 and 2024 finals, he only touched the ball once inside the opponent’s penalty area, causing the team to lose again (1-2).
Towards the 2026 World Cup.. Is it time to harvest?
With Southgate’s departure and Thomas Tuchel taking over, the national team is betting on the latter’s experience in winning titles (such as the Champions League with Chelsea). With Kane in top form, and a promising squad of Saka, Rice, Eze and Madueke, England have a mix of youth and experience.
Although the path to the championship requires going beyond 8 matches, the team, which has radically transformed since 2016, today appears ready for the great opportunity, amid a renewed question: “Will this be the year in which football returns to its homeland?”
