Top News

England’s stunning triumph over Mexico has earned a lofty place among the Three Lions’ most exceptional performances in major tournament finals.

Still basking in the afterglow of victory at altitude, it was tempting to immediately rank England’s emphatic win over the World Cup co-hosts at the very top, but one historic display just manages to edge it out.

For clarity, ‘our lifetimes’ refers to tournaments from the 1982 World Cup onwards, and ‘finals performances’ include matches from the World Cup and European Championships — excluding Le Tournoi, Nations League, or other events.

The Daily Mail match report from St Etienne once asked, “Who knows if England would have conquered the formidable Argentinians had David Beckham not been sent off through a mix of reckless emotion and harsh officiating? But what no one can deny is that they played so thrillingly that a dream quarter-final against Holland seemed within reach.”

That game truly had everything — two early penalties exchanged, a breathtaking solo effort from teenage prodigy Michael Owen, and a clever set-piece equaliser — all in the first half. But the second half turned chaotic as Beckham’s red card for retaliating against Diego Simeone’s foul led to effigies and death threats. His teammates fought valiantly to compensate, even appearing to clinch victory through Sol Campbell’s late header — only for the referee to intervene. Ultimately, the penalty shootout saw David Batty and Paul Ince miss, leaving Beckham to bear the brunt on a night when Owen emerged as a global star.

During the 1986 World Cup, Bobby Robson’s side entered their final group match against Poland in Monterrey under immense pressure, having lost to Portugal and drawn 0-0 with Morocco. With captain Bryan Robson injured and Ray Wilkins sent off, England needed a miracle. Robson, ever defiant, reportedly declared, “England will be playing 4-4-f***ing-2,” as he switched formations. The change paid off immediately — Gary Lineker bagged a first-half hat-trick as, according to Football Monthly, “England soared into the second phase of the World Cup with an exhilarating display of attacking football.”

Robson’s response afterward captured the emotion: “People can say what they like about me, but never accuse my players of lacking character. This was a phenomenal performance given the pressure they were under. Phenomenal!”

After heartbreak against Argentina in 1998, destiny brought the two teams together again four years later. In Sapporo, Beckham earned his redemption, blasting home the decisive penalty just before halftime after Owen was brought down by Mauricio Pochettino. The Daily Express praised England’s discipline and flair, while The Times rated Paul Scholes’ 9/10 display as “the greatest of his career.” It only got worse for Argentina, who failed to progress from the group.

England’s Euro 1996 semi-final against Germany remains iconic. The Three Lions started strongly, Paul Ince’s volley forcing a superb save before Alan Shearer’s fifth-minute header gave them the lead. Germany equalised through Stefan Kuntz, and both teams chased the Golden Goal in extra time — Darren Anderton hit the post, and Paul Gascoigne came agonisingly close to converting Shearer’s cross. After ten perfect penalties, Gareth Southgate’s miss sealed England’s fate. “If I could take one game to heaven,” said BBC commentator Barry Davies, “it would be that one — though I’d try to change the result up there.”

Italia ’90 was another emotional rollercoaster. England’s form fluctuated dramatically from their tepid opener against Ireland — prompting La Repubblica to ask, “Is this all there is to England?” — to their thrilling semi-final against Germany, which Andreas Brehme hailed as “a fantastic match between two great teams — the final before the final.” After narrow wins over Belgium and Cameroon, England’s luck ran out in Turin. Gary Lineker summed it up: “We hit the inside of the post, they scored a lucky goal, and we lost on penalties.”

Germany went on to the final, but even Brehme later suggested, “Had England won that shootout, they would have beaten Argentina — definitely, 100 per cent.”

Fast forward to 2021 — England’s first knockout win against Germany since 1966 broke one of four curses Gareth Southgate had vowed to lift: beating Germany, winning penalties, reaching a final, and winning a tournament. Three out of four isn’t bad. Despite Germany’s inconsistency in that era, they remained formidable. England, however, dominated the latter stages, sealing victory with goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane.

Three years later at the Qatar World Cup, Southgate’s men were still chasing the ultimate prize. Their semi-final win over the Netherlands was a statement — both in performance and emotion. Ollie Watkins’ last-minute winner, a strike of sheer precision, avenged Graham Taylor’s old grudge with Ronald Koeman. For 45 minutes, England played the kind of football they were always capable of — Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo dazzling with creativity, while Stockport’s energy tore the Dutch apart.

The second half dipped, with fans urging Southgate to “make some f***ing subs.” When Kane and Foden were eventually replaced by Cole Palmer and Watkins, the latter made history. Watkins ‘swore on his children’s lives’ that he sensed the moment coming — and his composed turn and finish sent England to a second consecutive Euros final after 55 years of waiting.

England’s Spain ’82 opener against France was another unforgettable start. “Cracking start! Both the result and the performance made it England’s most promising beginning to any tournament in years,” wrote Football Monthly. Bryan Robson’s volley after just 27 seconds remains one of the fastest World Cup goals ever. France equalised, but Robson struck again before Paul Mariner sealed victory. England finished the group unbeaten, prompting The Times to declare, “English fly home with their heads high,” and The Guardian to note, “England out with honour intact.”

And now, at altitude in Mexico, the Three Lions overcame every obstacle — the thin air, the hostile crowd, and the daunting history of the Azteca. Yet Jude Bellingham and his teammates rose magnificently. Bellingham struck twice in three minutes, and though Jarell Quansah saw red just after halftime, England’s defensive resilience — marshalled by Thomas Tuchel’s well-drilled setup — was extraordinary. Every player delivered. Quite simply, they were brilliant.

Football was supposed to come home in 1996, and though it’s taken three decades — perhaps delayed by Northern Rail — that dream felt close when England demolished the Netherlands at Wembley. Leading 1-0 at halftime through Shearer’s penalty, Terry Venables’ side exploded after the break. In an 11-minute blitz, Shearer added another, and Teddy Sheringham struck twice after a flowing move involving Gascoigne. Even Patrick Kluivert’s late goal couldn’t dampen the mood. As Venables summed it up: “We thrashed them. There’s no doubt about it.”