Not entering the competition in 1930, 1934, or 1938, the English made their World Cup debut in 1950. Winning their qualifying group, they reached the finals in Brazil. After beating Chile 2-0, England went down in one of the biggest World Cup upsets of all time, losing 1-0 to the USA. Still in shock, they lost their last group match against Spain, and were on the way home.
Four years later, England again made it to the finals, this time in Switzerland. A 4-4 draw against Belgium was followed by a comfortable win against the host nation, and they had won the group. Defending champions Uruguay were the quarter-final opponents, and they ended England's hopes with a 4-2 victory.
As in Brazil, Sweden in 1958 saw the English fail to negotiate the first round. Draws against Austria, the Soviet Union, and Brazil, left England third in the group. The 1958 finals were in Chile, and England got off to another poor start, losing their opener against Hungary. A win over Argentina and a goalless draw against the Bulgarians clinched a quarter-final spot, but Brazil were just too strong, and another World Cup was over.
The host nation in 1966, England were fancied to give their best performance to date, and for the first time, topped their first round group (against Uruguay, Mexico, and France). They then claimed another first, winning their first ever quarter-final, in a notoriously memorable triumph over the Argentinians. The semi-final against a Eusebio-inspired Portugal provided more success, and a final clash against West Germany was the reward.
Helmut Haller gave the visitors an early lead at Wembley, only for Geoff Hurst to redress the balance six minutes later. With just 12 minutes left, Hurst's West Ham team-mate Martin Peters gave England what looked like a World Cup winner. The Germans weren't giving up, though, and with one minute of normal time remaining, Wolfgang Weber made it all-square!
Eleven minutes into extra-time, and Hurst made it 3-2 with a famously controversial goal. In the dying seconds of the match, it appeared that some of the fans had heard the final whistle blow, and started to celebrate victory by invading the pitch. However, the game continued, but Geoff Hurst soon killed it by completing his hat-trick.
This win gave England automatic entry to the 1970 finals in Mexico, and despite a 1-0 defeat at the hands of eventual winners Brazil, they again reached the quarter-finals. This time, West Germany got revenge, as England threw away a two goal lead. Not only had England now been dethroned as World Champions, but it was to be twelve years before they competed in another World Cup finals.
Spain (1982) saw another group-winning performance, with a perfect record, but with the field now increased to 24 teams, it meant a second round-robin group was used. Two 0-0 draws against West Germany and Spain, and the Germans had again advanced at England's expense.
The Cup returned to Mexico in 1986, and - as they had done sixteen years earlier - England finished as group runners-up. A 3-0 win against Paraguay in the last sixteen was followed by a highly controversial 2-1 defeat against Argentina, with the South Americans' first goal coming from the HAND of Diego Maradona.
England won their group in Italy (1990), and after scraping wins against Belgium and Cameroon, faced West Germany in the semi-final. After 90 minutes, it was 1-1. Extra-time failed to produce any more goals, so it went to a penalty shoot-out. After three penalties each, it was still tied, but Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle both failed to convert, and the Germans had done it again.
After failing to qualify in 1994, the English reached France four years later. Finishing second in the group (behind Romania), they faced Argentina in the last sixteen. No handballs this time, but another penalty shootout (after finishing 2-2) again proved fatal. This time, Paul Ince and David Batty were the culprits.
The 2002 World Cup was split between Japan and South Korea, and England's group was completed by Sweden, Nigeria - and Argentina! This time, it was Argentina's turn to exit, as Sweden and England advanced. Oh, and England beat Argentina 1-0! After beating Denmark 3-0, it was time for yet another quarter-final loss, against the Brazilians.
Four years later, and for the second successive championship, England and Sweden made it out of the group (this time in Germany). Beating Ecuador in the first round of the knockout, England's quarter-final opponents were Portugal. Well, a goalless draw developed into a penalty shootout. Again, they failed, Owen Hargreaves being the only one of four players to find the back of the net.
There was a brand new host in 2010, in the shape of South Africa. England again managed to advance from the group, this time alongside the Americans, and a clash against their old foes Germany was the prize. Any fears of again losing on penalties was soon dispelled, as they slumped to a disappointing 4-1 defeat.
So, let's see what happens this time!
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