In photos: do you remember England's most iconic World Cup Moments?
“They think it’s all over. It is now!” An iconic phrase that would forever be associated with Englands greatest football achievement. Geoff Hurst’s controversial hat trick won the World Cup against Germany.
England is one the two oldest national teams in the world along with Scotland. The team was created in 1870.
In 1950 England participated in their first World Cup. Although the tournament began in 1930, the Football Association declined all invitations until 1950.
Gary Lineker scored a hat trick that took England to the last 16, after a terrible start in the tournament. Lineker went on to score six goals in Mexico and became the first - and still only - England player to win the Golden Boot.
Such an achievement for the Americans that they made a film about it. It is still considered to be one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. The USA team consisted of part time players and is a real 'David and Goliath' story.
In 1998, in an England match against Argentina, Michael Owen scored one of the greatest World Cup goals ever. He was only 18 at the time and scored after only seven minutes on the pitch. England lost the game 2-1 but the goal itself has gone down in England’s footballing history.
Italia 1990 was the tournament in which this supremely talented Geordie blew the world away with his quick feet, incredible skills and an ability to create havoc on and off the pitch. The stellar line-up of Lineker, Pearce, Shilton and Gascoigne came so close to bringing football home, only to fall to the West Germans in the semi-finals.
Most people would agree that Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne was the star of Italia 1990. He was excellent in England's semi-final against Germany and his tears after being booked making him ineligible to play in the final sealed his place in the nation's hearts…
On 30th June, 1998, against Argentina, David Beckham was sent off against in a knockout round that England eventually lost.
Four years later in Sapporo, Japan, Michael Owen was brought down in the box by Mauricio Pochettino. Beckham stepped up and, cool as you like, hammered the penalty in the back of the net, ending his own four years of hurt and establishing himself as a true England great.
Beckham was at it again in 2006. The football legend scored from a free kick that brought the win for the English side over Ecuador. He became the first England player to score over three World Cups. The team moved to the quarter finals but lost to Portugal in penalties.
When England found themselves in yet another penalty shoot-out, the nation hid behind the sofa. Tottenham’s Eric Dier stepped up to take what could be the winning penalty, and the nation held it’s breath. The Spurs midfielder smashed the ball home, every England fan in the world sent a swarm of pint glasses flying in the air as the 3 Lions won its first World Cup penalty shoot-out in 22 years.
South Africa, 2010, saw a clear goal by England midfielder Frank Lampard that wasn't given despite tens of millions of television viewers worldwide clearly seeing it cross the line. However, the error ushered in the era of goal line technology, which was then introduced for the 2014 event. In the end, video assistant referees, (VAR) was introduced for the first time four years later.
One that still leaves a bad taste in the mouths of England fans everywhere. To rub salt into the wound, this happened shortly after Maradona scored an amazing solo goal. His blatant act of cheating, that has gone unpunished to this day, still upsets England fans now.
Who can forget Wayne Rooney's red card in 2006 in Germany. The player, with some strength, managed to maintain the ball whilst nudging a Portuguese player out the way (who subsequently tumbled to the floor awkwardly). Ronaldo came running in protest to the referee, but Rooney wasn't having him interfering and escalating the small foul. He pushed Ronaldo in a moment of frustration and was given the immediate red card. No one touches Cristiano Ronaldo.
What a game this was and we have two moments to highlight from this match. First was the spectacular, perfectly-timed tackle by Bobby Moore in the penalty box, that magnificently stopped Jairzinho from going on to score. Then we have to mention Gordon Banks’ 'save of the century'. The goalkeeper judged the bounce perfectly and flicked the ball over the net to the disbelief of Pelé who had already begun to celebrate his goal.
Two of the great players of a generation, Pele and Bobby Moore, met at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. The pair were considered by many to be the two best players in the world at the time and, after Jarzinho's goal earned a 1-0 win for Brazil, the two legends exchanged words and their shirts at full-time.
The FIFA rankings started in 1992 and the highest position England has ranked was fourth in both 1997 and 2006. Only six teams have ranked been No. 1 with Brazil having been ranked first the most.