Will England Pay The Penalty…Again??

When looking back on England’s recent World Cup Final appearances one word immediately springs to mind; penalties!

It all started back at Italia 90. After a slow start to the tournament a Gazza inspired England beat Egypt, Belgium and Cameroon to reach the semi final for the first time since 1966 but despite a superb display against West Germany it was not quiet enough. Gary Linekar’s late equaliser brought temporary joy to the Nation but only a 1-1 draw and when Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle both missed in the penalty shoot out Bobby Robson’s hopes of emulating Sir Alf Ramsey were over.

Chris Waddle misses from the spot and England are out of Italia 90.

It was a similar story in France 1998. Another great performance in the second round match against Argentina was only good enough for a 2-2 draw and this time it was Paul Ince and David Batty who missed from the spot to send Glenn Hoddle’s England home on the early plane once again.

Paul Ince is inconsolable after missing in the shoot out against Argentina.

The 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea did not feature a penalty shoot out but it did bring yet more heartache for the Three Lions. After battling past Argentina and Denmark to set up a quarter final tie against favourites Brazil, Sven Goran Eriksson’s England started well and led through Michael Owen but it was too good too last. Brazil equalised before the break and then won it with a freak late goal from Ronaldinho that perhaps David Seaman should have saved and once again we were on the early flight home.

Seaman is beaten by Ronaldinho as England crash out again.

The last World Cup in Germany in 2006 saw yet more penalty misery in the quarter finals. Another heroic display against Portugal, with ten men for most of the second half and all of extra time after Wayne Rooney had been sent off, was again not quiet enough for Eriksson’s side as Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all missed in the shoot out to send us home early yet again.

Wayne Rooney sees red and England miss out on the semi finals again.

But the bad luck is not a recent thing for England at the World Cup Finals; it goes back to Mexico 1970. Goalkeeper Gordon Banks, the best in the World at the time, was struck down with food poisoning the night before the quarter final tie against West Germany and his replacement Peter Bonetti was at fault for two of the goals that went past him as we lost 3-2 in extra time to lose our grip on the trophy.

Illness to Gordon Banks cost England the World Cup in 1970.

That was to be our last appearance at the Finals until Spain in 1982 but once again we failed to reach the semi finals despite remaining unbeaten in the tournament. Things had started so well with Bryan Robson scoring after just 27 seconds in the opening match against France but the goals dried up and two consecutive 0-0 draws with West Germany and Spain in the second group stage were not enough to send Ron Greenwood’s men through to the last four.

The 1982 World Cup squad…unbeaten but still out!

The World Cup returned to Mexico in 1986 but it was a case of deja-vu for England as we once again crashed out in the quarter final. No, not penalties this time but it was the hand of God and the left foot of Diego Maradona that did for us as once again we found luck was not on our side.

 

You have got to hand it to Maradona…

So the current England squad set off to South Africa with the hopes of the Nation once again on their shoulders but is our luck finally about to change? Under the leadership of Fabio Capello we certainly breezed through our qualifying group with no problems but doubts remain as to whether we have the squad to challenge the likes of Brazil, Spain, Argentina or Italy. I guess the next month or so will give us the answers but please, no more penalty shoot outs…