England’s World Cup campaign may have ended in disappointment, but should that define this generation? Liam Harding believes the achievements of Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel’s England deserve far more recognition than they often receive, even without lifting a major trophy.
Tournament consistency tells its own story
As football fans, we often place huge expectations on our teams, whether at club or international level. We also have a habit of comparing today’s players with previous generations, and this World Cup has been no different for England supporters hoping to see the Three Lions lift the trophy once again.
England have won just one major international honour. When compared with footballing giants such as Brazil, who have lifted the World Cup five times, that is not a huge return. Yet England’s triumph remains one of the most important moments in the nation’s football history.
That famous victory came on home soil at the old twin-towered Wembley Stadium in 1966, when Sir Alf Ramsey’s side defeated West Germany 4-2 after extra time thanks to Sir Geoff Hurst’s historic hat-trick in front of almost 100,000 supporters.
Many hoped England could repeat that success at this World Cup, but those dreams came to an end following the 2-1 semi-final defeat to an outstanding Argentina side.
However, the truth is that England’s teams over the past eight years have arguably been more consistent in tournament football than the legendary side of the 1960s that every generation has been measured against.
Between the early 1960s and 1970, England, under Walter Winterbottom and later Sir Alf Ramsey, reached one European Championship semi-final, one World Cup final and two World Cup quarter-finals.
The same team that won the 1966 World Cup also failed to qualify for both the 1964 and 1972 European Championships. England also missed the 1984 and 2008 European Championships, but those disappointments came 24 years apart.
This England team deserves greater appreciation
Since the shock defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016 under Roy Hodgson, England, first under Gareth Southgate and now Thomas Tuchel, have reached two World Cup semi-finals, one World Cup quarter-final and two European Championship finals.
Those statistics suggest that, across Southgate’s tenure and into Tuchel’s reign, England have produced one of the most consistent international teams in the nation’s history.
This current group of players may not have won silverware, but they deserve just as much respect as the 1966 generation. They have consistently given supporters hope at major tournaments, with the 2022 World Cup quarter-final defeat to eventual finalists France the only occasion where they fell earlier than many had expected.
Many doubted England before the 1966 World Cup, just as there have been doubts surrounding this modern generation. Yet this group has repeatedly delivered deep runs at major tournaments and helped restore national belief after the disappointment of the 2014 World Cup group-stage exit.
These players have made their point, and they should not be judged solely because they have not ended England’s long wait for another major trophy.
Southgate built a strong England side which, even with changes in personnel and a new manager, has continued to compete at the highest level under Thomas Tuchel.
We cannot keep looking backwards forever.
At some point, English football has to celebrate what this generation has achieved while looking forward to what comes next.
Liam Harding
Do you agree with Liam? Does England’s current generation deserve more credit for its consistency at major tournaments? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I’ll remember Madueke forever. Who even was Bobby Charlton? Geoffrey Hurst? Gimme a tired Rice, Konsa, Quansah… They should be remembered for 60+ years. The golden nearly legends.
No they don’t deserve any recognition Time. after time England make hard work of beating moderate to poor teams. England very rarely win against one of the proven footballing nations When England start beating Germany France Italy Spain Argentina and Brazil regularly that’s when they earn respect
Stuart well said.
England have improved regards how far they go in said Cups, but that’s not good enough.
And now you’ve got the current manager gaslighting the fans regarding their defensive performances, we see it clearly with our own eyes what he did. And for him to say he has no regrets, some’s him up perfectly.
The FA have thrown everything at winning the WC for years and I agree with Liam that the more recent approaches under Southgate and Tuchel have vastly improved our chances of making a final and hopefully winning it.
I was still in single figures when we won the World Cup so I can’t really judge, but there were periods after that when watching England was excruciating. Robson was a charismatic manager but several others fell so far short and may have been hampered by the weight of expectations from the supporters and reactions by the media.
I give credit to Tuchel for trying to pick players by thinking outside the box and not trying to cram in every big name. He’s had one bite at the cherry and deserves to get another chance in the hope that the experience has taught him a couple of lessons.
Another point is that the premier league is gruelling for top players who end up amassing a huge amount of games and either were not fully fit or drained by the season
Comparisons in this way can be difficult . Most of us weren’t around in 1966 and it is very difficult to compare achievements in the context of those times to now.
Consider a few things: many rules have changed, the ball is different, the pitches are different, the social and cultural significance of winning major titles may not be the same. There are also differences amongst the players and teams, length of tournaments etc. etc.
In my view, the current team should be assessed with regards to whether they have optimised their potential.
In this case there is an issue. England should be amongst the best all round teams in world football. There is no way that, with a full complement of players, they should be playing all out defence for half an hour against any team in the world.
I was always more disappointed with the “Golden Generation”. More talent than current England team (Seaman, Sol Campbell, Cashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Terry, Neville, Scholes, Gerrard, Beckham, Lampard, Shearer, Owen, Rooney etc) BUT never got past the Quarter-finals in any major tournament, did not qualify for Euro 2008 at all (although you also need to blame out umbrella holding manager lol). Incredible amount of Talent and not even a semi final.
This team has made it to the Finals of the Euros and Semi-Finals of the World Cup.
I don’t understand it but those are the facts.
But certainly can’t compare to 1966 team. Absolute legends
In my opinion England may win the World Cup again if they start paying more attention to real English players,rather assembling players from different countries…Watching the finals tomorrow,you’ll Argentina with 100% of players from their country and Spain have over 90% but same cannot be said about England,i don’t even want to talk about France.
Matthew. Which England players in this squad are not actually English? Are you suggesting that anyone not actually born here should not qualify?
All of our players are English
Which players are you suggesting are not English
England should be proud if they get 3 place.. with most players coming of a hectic and gruelling schedule..
I couldn’t say if they feel pride, but that was one crazy game.
You have a lot of players in your squad with African,Irish and Jamaican heritage,for me they don’t qualify as real English.And let me add,personally,i will never feel proud having players from other nations win a tournament for my country,it’s called national team and not club football.
Matthew,
To a point I’m with you regards nationality. I do find it amusing that for a period some years ago, it seemed if you had drunk a pint of Guinness you qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland😂.
But for me you should only be able to represent the country of you or you’re parents birth place. Going beyond this and going back as far as Grand parents is not on as far as I’m concerned.
I don’t see his point at all
Which players is he referring too that were not born or grew up in England ?
Yeah your opinion doesn’t matter
All of our players are English based on the criteria set
Which ones are not English ?
That your government set a criteria that if you are born in England, you become English doesn’t make them truly English.
well it factually does by law lol
legally they are English
you not liking that because of your own views has zero bearings
again if your born in England, grow up in England , been educated in England , speak English ….how are you not English
and the answer can’t be because you don’t like it lol
Matthew, but it’s not just the UK government that has made that rule. Virtually every country has that rule.
25 of our 26 man squad are born in England.
In my opinion that makes them ….English lol
The other one moved here where he was one so again is officially long qualified for being English
Dan,
I can’t agree regards if you come over here at any age you qualify to play for England. International football should be represented by their respective nationality’s.
If you were born in China, Japan, Spain, where ever. I don’t care how long you’ve lived over here, you’re never going to be English.
They have that rule in Cricket, said player comes over here to play, and after five years they qualify to play for England. Just because rules are made, it doesn’t make them all good ones.
For me, there’s got to be a point where country’s are represented by the actual nationality of said player, or it makes a mockery of international football.
well either way , that’s only the case with one of our players so when he say we are worried about assembling players from different nations he means one
unfortunately it’s not really our opinions that matter
Geuhi based on the laws of our government is English
and even if we think that he contradicts his own point
I’m afraid you are talking rubbish. Unfortunately, this kind of bigoted perspective continues amongst some older people who lack humanity.
The lack of insight and empathy from people like you is quite staggering. Have you put yourself in the place of that person who has been here since the age of one. The only world they have known may have been in England. People like you want to deny them the right to fully reach their potential because of a narrow minded, insular worldview. At the same time you fail to realise that you are denying the country the benefit of that person’s talent and the joy they can bring to so many..
yeah but you can tell he’s not English himself
David
Derek has a valid point. A sports star who’d represented one country at an international level should not be allowed to switch to represent another just on residential status.
Derek.
Think: Zola Budd, Gregg Rusedski, Lennox Lewis.
Jax,
You’re examples are bang on the money. I don’t care what anyone says, it can’t be right if said country has to hire players from foreign country’s to represent them.
It makes a mockery of said sport, whichever that sport might be. I don’t know if David is referring to me in his post but if he is, I can live with that.
David, if you are referring to me by the way. Stop saying people like you, why the need to get personal. It’s my view, the fact you don’t agree with it is fine. But stop the personal stuff, it really doesn’t reflect well on you.
Sorry about that Jax, rant over. 😂👍
There is no logic to what you’re saying. You want players that have African/Jamaican/Irish heritage to play for countries they were NOT born in? Then you go on about only feeling pride if the players are from the nation of your country? Do you even know if Declan Rice has ever even set foot in Ireland but he should be representing them? Does Saka have any knowledge about Nigeria but he should represent them and feel pride for Nigeria when he wasn’t born there? Also I see you are praising Argentina when they literally have a player named MacAllister and you think he is “100% Argentine” whatever that means since majority of Argentines are mostly Europeans ethnically.
My opinion remains mate and I stand by it.
you haven’t said what your opinion is though
25 players are born in England so how are they not English lol
that’s like saying my opinion is grass is blue and then saying well that is my opinion
they are factually English
Wasting your time Dan. His is a contradiction. Perhaps with an Irish born great grandmother I’d be in some sort of no man’s/woman’s land in terms of representing England in any kind of international sport
my niece is born in England and lived in England her whole life
her dad is English
her mum is English but her parents were born in the Caribbean
so by his logic my niece doesn’t have a country lol
Some of this is fairly straightforward. It’s racism.
I know mate
that is why I am inviting him to say what the issue is
if 25 people are born in England and grew up in England what’s the issue ?
The issue is one thing
Thankfully England don’t hold those views and the history of our country have never worked like he’s saying
unfortunately there other ex world leaders I can name who have his views
David,
Don’t go there. People having an opinion on nationality doesn’t make them racist. And for you to call them that, paints a nasty picture of you.
You have no business calling me nasty. The people you are defending are nasty human beings. The same people rarely hold the same views for people who are second generation Brits who have white parents from Europe or Australia. However, they feel they have the right to exclude people of Asian, African or Caribbean heritage.
David,
I’d like to apologize for using the word nasty. There was no need for it, and again I apologize.
well we need to wait mate and see why he thinks some of the English squad are not fully English?
as 25 of them are born in England the assumption is he’s saying in his opinion some don’t look English
I unfortunately think that’s racist
but like I said I wait for him to clarify
Matthew, I was born in a BMH (British Military Hospital) in what was West Germany when my dad serving Queen and Country. So according to you I’m not English ?
Matthew.
There’s a player in the French Squad, Michael Olise, who’s English-born and raised, father Nigerian, but chose to play for France because his mother’s French/Algerian.
Under your rules, he would have no entitlement to play for any of those four countries. He’d be football stateless.
Jax,
I did say in one of my earlier posts, that said player should be allowed to play for the country of his birth, or the country of his Mother or Fathers birth.
But that’s where it should stop in my opinion, going back to the Grandparents is to far back as far as I’m concerned.
Does this make me a racist David?.
Derek. Grandparents are a step too far for me. I’m OK with overseas children who’ve been granted UK citizenship being included. We’ve benefitted from that quite well.
Jax,
On reflection I guess if said person comes and lives here from childhood, then there’s wriggle room regarding them representing this country.
But I can’t agree if it’s an adult. It maybe that they miss out on playing for England, but we don’t always get what we want in life do we.
but again …..25 of England squad are born in England, the other moved here when he was one
so his suggestion that we worry about selecting not proper English players is a mute point
I know what he’s trying to say and he’s wrong and in 2026 he will be rightfully called out for it
but again with respect
we are confusing what we believe and our feelings with facts
if a child has lived in the UK consistently for 10 years they can apply for UK citizenship
so in the case of Guehi he has since the age of one lived, went to school , talks English
the law says he’s English…….Matthew not liking that because he looks a certain way has zero bearings on that fact
Dan,
As I said in a post to Jax, on reflection I can see the situation regarding living here from a young age.
But for me, adults who come to a new country and then can play for said country is wrong in my opinion.
And just in case David is reading, no racism intended in my post.
oh not aimed at you mate
just saying let’s take feelings and opinions out of it and deal with facts
The 26 English players who went to the World Cup are English because the government/ law says they are English
it doesn’t say but that depends on how Matthew feels lol
that’s like saying it’s raining outside and me saying well in my opinion it’s not raining
facts are facts
The England squad are all English
even your opinion about an adult living in a country long enough to play for for them ( like Arteta for England) doesn’t apply for anyone in the current squad
So he’s making no sense
Dan,
I will just say one thing that I alluded to in an earlier post to you. It revolves around making rules.
And I would even level this at laws that are made. Just because rules are made or laws, doesn’t mean they are always good ones.
Whether we agree with them or not, I think it fair to say some laws and rules are not the best shall we say.
yeah but he’s not saying what he disagrees with
he’s saying if your born in England you can still not be English
so we have agree to disagree mate
some things don’t change because of how you feel
the sky is Blue , the grass is green , if your born in England and live in England your English
facts don’t care about your feelings
The quality-in-depth of teams in the World Cup is higher than it used to be, so it’s more competitive than in 1966. However nobody was queueing-up to offer Arsenal “More respect” for finishing 2nd in the league every year, and if England want more respect they’ll have to do better than the 3rd/4th place finish they’re settling for this year.
Yossarian,
Good post, I agree with every word. 👍
The question of more than 1966 is hard to answer as I was an infant at that time. I can only compare WC football from 1978 which was the first WC that I actually saw. The best WC that I witnessed was 1982 (the best Brazilian team to have not won the WC) and 1986. All the others have been 1 notch lower.
But IMO, the attack, midfield and the full backs have gained respect as much as any over the last 46 years. But the central defenders have not. We need either a better duo or better coaching for them to become a better duo.
I was born in 1969, so although it was good that England won the World Cup in 1966, it doesn’t really resonate that much with me.
I’ve never seen England win anything. And it’s seems I never will at this rate. 🤦♂️
Derek, 1997, Tournoi de France, under Hoddle of all people.
Jax,
Good try. 😂🤣👍
🤣
My point Dan is that as long as any or both your parents is not originally English,you shouldn’t be qualified to represent the national team and it’s not racism,i’m just stating facts.
oh I know your point
I knew your point the moment you said it
Thankfully it’s not factual at all
All our English players are factually and legally English
We long defeated people with your views I’m afraid
that’s why I said take feelings out of it
English isn’t based on Matthew racial and discrimination views
What exactly makes someone English?
William the Conqueror was French, I believe. At various times in our history our Kings and Queens came from different Royal families across Europe. Going back even further we were invaded by the Romans.
Will you look upon a future talented grown up son or daughter of Saka as English if called upon to represent England? Because if you don’t then your reasoning is totally flawed
Susan people like him opinions are flawed
They are not looking to make sense
It’s called racism
By his logic, almost no one in the world is truly from where they live, because if you go back far enough, everyone’s ancestors came from somewhere else.
I am not a racist Daniel.being of the opinion that players should only represent countries of their parents doesn’t make me a racist,i’m a PURIST instead.
You are still describing support for unfair discriminatory practices and prejudice. Many so-called purists use the same cover arguments as a way of trying to mask their racist views.
How do you define the country of one’s parents? How do you define “originally English”?
no your a racist
your telling people born in England / grew up in England/ who only know England , who might even say I am English ……your saying you don’t count
now why would anyone want to ignore the law and insist both parents have to be English
Because by saying that you gate keep and an English person is guaranteed to look a certain way
which if you know your history is also not a thing
I don’t wish to invoke Godwin’s Law, so I’ll just say that trying to create a pure race was last attempted in the 1940’s. And we all know how that went.
and also
Historically, there is no such thing as a genetically “pure” English person. The English population is a historical mix of Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans. English identity has always been fluid and evolving.
so there are so many flaws with his views but thankfully England long battled against those with those views
Dan,
I have to admit that calling Matthew a racist is to strong. I’m not a racist either, but I agree with him to a large extent regards the national teams being represented by their own nationality’s.
You may not agree with these opinions, but calling them racist is to strong as far as I’m concerned.
National teams are represented by teams of their own nationality.
It seems you are just tying yourself in knots in order to defend a very dubious worldview.
not juts is it racist , his point makes zero sense
his or your opinion doesn’t change the facts ,
modern, inclusive view defines being English by birth, upbringing, culture, and contribution to society. Under this definition, if a person is born in England, grows up in the culture, and considers themselves English, they are English.
Legally, anyone born in the UK, or who undergoes the naturalisation process, holds British citizenship.
it doesn’t say but we care what a racist thinks lol
that’s like me saying there are not 7;days in a week
facts don’t care about feelings
Clearly a difficult subject, that we don’t all agree on clearly.
not a difficult subject at all
legally, culturally, and socially, if you are born in England and raised in England, you are English.
you and Matthew not liking that doesn’t change it
now why you wouldn’t like is can only be for one reason but it’s irrelevant lol
Dan,
I don’t know if you’ve misunderstood me or not. I agree if you’re born in this country, you’re English. If you’re born in another country but one of you’re parents is English, I don’t have a problem with them playing for England.
What I am apposed to though, is adults who come over here and stay and after so many years they then qualify to represent England. That to me, makes a mockery of international sport.
Just to say again, I’ve never had a problem if they’re born here, have an English parent no problem. I hope I’ve cleared that up.
yeah but he isn’t saying that
thankfully though racists like him don’t run the UK and we have long opposed those views
I will need you to define racism for me Daniel Smith because it seems in our World today that anyone that has a contrary opinion becomes racist or fascist in people’s view. To be honest, I feel offended for being called a racist for having a factual opinion. You don’t just go about labeling people with whatever language that comes to your thoughts.
Matthew for what it’s worth I don’t actually think you’re racist. Just because you have a different view doesn’t make you a racist.
You’ve come out with you’re view, and were in no way abusive or derogatory in any way.
But I’m afraid these days, you’ve got to be careful with what you say. I’ll be interested to see if I get any backlash regards me backing you.
I’m both big enough and ugly enough to take it.
mate if your allowed to tell people who are legally English they are not proper English and hide behind it’s your opinion then I’m allowed to have an option as well
As much as you are offended imagine those on here ( and there will be some ) who feel English and are English but are being told they are not proper English
opinion not option ( dodgy phone )
Matthew, Dan Smith hasn’t a clue about racism. He called me a racist, yet I suffered from racism as a child, and I’ve fought racists since my teenage years.
so a simple yes or no do you agree that some of the England squad are not English and that’s the reason we failed ?
Is your post aimed at me Dan ?
yeah I actually thought this was a topic we would agree on
I will happily share with you that my Niece is born in England , has an English Dad, lived here her whole life and family is English but her mum Dad was from Barbados
I’m sure you can relate to this ….who is anyone to say she is not ‘ proper English ‘ and that’s why England fail because they pick them ?
When legally / cultural she is English
put your dislike for me to one side and tell me that is okay to say to someone
Well you called me a racist earlier this year, so that’s why I posted you ain’t got a scooby about racism.
well I hope I have clarified that now
but if you don’t mind do you have an answer to the question
Are Emgalnd players not all proper English and are they to blame for England failing ?
and soz it didn’t send but I’ll send you the link if you want of our conversation I didn’t call you racist
I said a song that Adebayoure / and feels is racist you wanted to explain because you think the lyrics were okay
You haven’t clarified why you called me a racist, which I’m not and never have been !
and it didn’t send because I put the words of the song in lol
but yes or no to the question as I want to stay on topic
Send the link then.
Answer question first
As if you can’t say a English person is English then what’s the point
No. Send the link.
Moderators won’t let me dude because they have to read the link first
Contact Just Arsenal and they will give you my email
Or go on the search icon and type in relevant words and your find the article
Type in Adeybayore racism and look at article March 12th and you will find the following
I’m not comfortable at all answering that
it’s not not my job to educate you
just ask someone else or I’ll leave it to others or even admin .
If you can’t see why some of that changing might be racist then your either racist yourself or just looking for a debate
either way , I’m not engaging
So see I didn’t actually call you a racist lol
You wrote that I’m “potentially a racist person”.
In my book thats as good as calling me a racist !!
As I posted previously, you ain’t got a scooby.
exactly lol
potentially and then clarified all ( like now ) it could be someone looking for attention
it’s like now I ask you simply to say do you think all the England squad are English and if not are they to blame for England failings
you can’t blame me for thinking why someone can’t answer that ?
But I won’t go off track and respect your opinion
mine remains , if your English ….your English
As I said, in my book you called me, someone who has suffered from racism, who has fought racists, a racist.
It would seem that you have the IQ of a dead ant.
cool
I’m not going to be distracted by the topic by just talking about you as we will just get shot down anyways lol
I’m sticking to the topic and my stance that if your born in Emgalnd you are English
will only respond now I’m afraid if you want to discuss the article or this stance
Makes a change, but good for you.
so if you met Saka and he said I’m English and you told him no your not proper English and that’s the reason Emgalnd failed , you don’t think that’s offensive lol ?
tell you what …..post it to him or Ian Wright or Declan Rice ….say it at your work place
mate you can agree with him
like I said facts don’t care about feelings
factually if your born in England….your English