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To ask why the England team (the men) keep falling at the final hurdle, (well virtually at the final hurdle,) at the football World Cup ... and The Euros too?

837 replies

GorgeousSpringtime · 16/07/2026 08:58

Not an England-team bashing thread, but why, oh WHY do they - the men - keep falling at the final hurdle (well, virtually the final hurdle,) every time at the football (soccer) World Cup - and the Euro Cup too...?

They do so well, and get so far, and then BANG they're out. Nearly always in the top 8, or top 4, (and the top 2, in the World Cup once, and a couple of times in the Euros I think,) but never the winner. (Not since 1966 anyway!)

Is it nerves? Is it that they're so anxious to win that they keep making silly mistakes? Are they just not quite good enough? WHAT IS IT? Why do they keep getting so close, but just never manage to get the win?!

As I said, I am not bashing them, and they did well, and I am proud of them, but I just get so frustrated that they can't quite ever get the win!

!

OP posts:
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DontBuyAnotherBook · 19/07/2026 00:45

Will do our rankings pretty good too. Might well go up to third.

Twonewcats · 19/07/2026 00:22

Gloriia · 18/07/2026 20:56

Omg they're hoping. Hope and optimism, try it!

I have lots and lots of hope and optimism. None regarding England winning the WC, though 🙂

ComeOnEngland12 · 19/07/2026 00:18

Amazing game, incredible !
What a brilliant ride this team has given us I feel so proud and what a signature sign off from the amazing Jude Bellingham ! He was determined to get that last goal !

Amazing !

GorgeousSpringtime · 19/07/2026 00:09

ENGLAND DID SO WELL in the England vs France game.

We have got third place folks.

Best we have ever done since 1966! Only ever got to fourth place before.

Well done you absolute beauties. Smile

OP posts:
GorgeousSpringtime · 18/07/2026 23:22

LOL true @Gloriia 😆

OP posts:
Gloriia · 18/07/2026 23:21

Omg they're going to catch them up then everyone will say Tuchel should've sent more defenders on Grin

nolongersurprised · 18/07/2026 23:12

I’m not English so have no skin in the game, but the comment upthread about children in Argentina, Spain etc playing more football outside due to the weather probably has some merit. There’s clearly merit in playing for fun, with whoever’s around and whenever you can.

I wonder if the English football academies - by selecting too early - are doing talented young players a disservice? I do think “elite” anything before puberty is a scam, and they are psychologically damaging programs anyway, given that <1% of 9 year olds playing for an football academy will end up making a living from the game.

Doubtanny · 18/07/2026 23:10

Incredible how dangerous England are with some pace on the wings as an outlet. This is a bit of an indictment on Tuchel, he's probably wishing France showed up tonight.

Toney had been shit but it's refreshing how much more of a likeable team England are without Kane diving and cheating. Complaining to the ref anytime someone is near him and faking head injuries to get play stopped. Although he wasn't alone in that, Stones and Pickford were happy enough to cheat the ref in that manner when they were leading against Argentina.

hourspassed · 18/07/2026 23:08

You can't possibly compare this match with the one v Argentina, especially as France have been dreadful so far. No cheating or fighting from our opposition has definitely helped!

England are playing incredibly well though! Come on boys!!

GorgeousSpringtime · 18/07/2026 23:05

Valeyard15 · 18/07/2026 23:03

Because it's a glorified friendly. The semi-final actually mattered so the pressure was on.

As I just said, they are showing us that they can do it! Smile

Roll on Euros '28! Grin

OP posts:
GorgeousSpringtime · 18/07/2026 23:05

lovecotswoldsliving · 18/07/2026 22:57

Because France are not punching us and pulling us down everytime we get the ball.
This is a game of football.
Not a boxing match.
I am proud of our team 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Me too. Could not be more proud! And they are showing that they can do it! Smile

OP posts:
Valeyard15 · 18/07/2026 23:03

GorgeousSpringtime · 18/07/2026 22:53

England vs France at the moment - 4:0 to England at half time!!!

Why could they not have done this when playing Argentina?! Shock

Still, great playing from them. They could get 3rd place after all. The best they have done for 60 years!

Because it's a glorified friendly. The semi-final actually mattered so the pressure was on.

ComeOnEngland12 · 18/07/2026 23:01

Saka and rashford have been amazing. Imagine if they were on at 60 mins Argentina.

Much better game ,nice players.

lovecotswoldsliving · 18/07/2026 22:57

GorgeousSpringtime · 18/07/2026 22:53

England vs France at the moment - 4:0 to England at half time!!!

Why could they not have done this when playing Argentina?! Shock

Still, great playing from them. They could get 3rd place after all. The best they have done for 60 years!

Because France are not punching us and pulling us down everytime we get the ball.
This is a game of football.
Not a boxing match.
I am proud of our team 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

GorgeousSpringtime · 18/07/2026 22:53

England vs France at the moment - 4:0 to England at half time!!!

Why could they not have done this when playing Argentina?! Shock

Still, great playing from them. They could get 3rd place after all. The best they have done for 60 years!

OP posts:
hourglass2 · 18/07/2026 22:50

lovecotswoldsliving · 18/07/2026 20:56

Still cheating and trying to start a fight Everytime we score!

It's in their DNA

hourglass2 · 18/07/2026 22:49

I always feel sorry for the kiddies in the crowd when their team is losing, the camera always zooms in to their upset little faces

EasternStandard · 18/07/2026 22:21

XelaM · 18/07/2026 18:55

Love Jude so much 😍😍😍

Same. Couldn’t be better all round.

hourglass2 · 18/07/2026 21:19

Gloriia · 18/07/2026 20:55

These massive Argentina rugby blokes very different to the teeny nasty argie footie players. Different sports I know. Think I may become a rugby fan 😍

The commentator said a rugby player was built like a terraced house!

Gloriia · 18/07/2026 20:59

lovecotswoldsliving · 18/07/2026 20:56

Still cheating and trying to start a fight Everytime we score!

I don't undertand rugby tbh they all look like they're fighting to me. At least the argies don't look like cartel members like their overly tattooed footie compatriots

lovecotswoldsliving · 18/07/2026 20:56

Gloriia · 18/07/2026 20:55

These massive Argentina rugby blokes very different to the teeny nasty argie footie players. Different sports I know. Think I may become a rugby fan 😍

Still cheating and trying to start a fight Everytime we score!

Gloriia · 18/07/2026 20:56

Twonewcats · 18/07/2026 20:48

But that was the original song in 1996 - the chorus is now very much sung by fans as meaning that they're going to win

Omg they're hoping. Hope and optimism, try it!

Gloriia · 18/07/2026 20:55

These massive Argentina rugby blokes very different to the teeny nasty argie footie players. Different sports I know. Think I may become a rugby fan 😍

Twonewcats · 18/07/2026 20:48

hourglass2 · 18/07/2026 20:17

Yep hardly anyone bothers to read the lyrics, it's very self depricating and the "it's coming home" bit refers to the Euros 96 being hosted in England, nothing to do with winning the world cup

But that was the original song in 1996 - the chorus is now very much sung by fans as meaning that they're going to win

hourglass2 · 18/07/2026 20:17

x2boys · 18/07/2026 20:12

Yet another person who doesnt undersand the meaning of the its coming home song
I also remember my irish Dad getting
Dancing around the lounge when ireland got through to the Quarter finals on penalties in 1990.
So i think
Ireland might also get a bit excited if they were in the world cup.

Yep hardly anyone bothers to read the lyrics, it's very self depricating and the "it's coming home" bit refers to the Euros 96 being hosted in England, nothing to do with winning the world cup

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