It was 16 years ago that England last reached a semi-final of a major competition when they drew with Spain 0-0 after extra time at Euro 2012 in England in the quarter-finals, but then went on to win the penalty shoot out 4-2, which of course was a huge surprise for England.
The England team before semi-final with Germany in 1996
Shearer, Gascoigne and Pearce in the starting line-up
England hardly ever win in a penalty shoot out, and true enough in the semi-finals that year, England drew 1-1 with Germany after extra time, and lost the shoot-out 6-5. We should say that Alan Shearer scored both his penalties in the quarter finals and semi-finals in 1996.
The time before when England did well in a major Championship, was at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, when the great Bobby Robson took England to the semi-finals, after the side had beaten Cameroon 3-2 after extra time in the quarter finals.
That was thanks to two penalties from Gary Linekar.
But there again England lost to West Germany on penalties 4-3 in the semi-final, after drawing the game 1-1 after extra time, and Peter Beardsley scored his penalty for England.
So we have to go back to 1966 for England’s only win ever in a major Championship, when we hammered Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley, with Geoff Hurst getting his famous hat-trick, and his West Ham team-mate Martin Peters scoring the second goal.
And with those famous last words from English commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme, when Geoff Hurst scored his third goal just before the end of the game, as he charged down the left wing with some England fans already on the field:
“They think it’s all over – it is now.”
I remember it well because my Dad and I knocked back the two vodkas we were about to down 30 minutes before that, when England had been winning 2-1, but Wolfgang Weber had the cheek to equalize for Germany after 89 minutes – yes it was a hand ball alright. 😀
What a shock that was, but England came back bravely with two extra time goals from Geoff Hurst, who had squeezed Jimmy Greaves out of the starting eleven during the tournament.
England will play Italy tonight in the quarter finals, and we must have a decent change of going through, although it looks like Roy Hodgson will be playing the defensive game he had England playing against Ukraine in their 1-0 win.
England are playing defensive against Italy?
It looks to be two teams fighting it out who are both much better on defense than they are in scoring goals.
We have no idea what will happen tonight, but we are hoping England can do it.
Of course then we will meet Germany in the semi-finals …… it’s good to hear that England are practicing penalties.
Let us know what you think.
Will England Beat Italy Tonight?
- Yes (52%, 308 )
- No (38%, 221 )
- Not Sure (11%, 62 )
Total Voters: 588
492 comments so far
Toon1978
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Comment #41toon_army_redlichtie85
I don’t hate Milner, i never said that. I think his move to City was a wrong option that is all i am saying. It has made him a weaker player from what i can see and he should have stopped at Villa knowing that City where going to buy every man and his dog.
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Comment #42oh dear, @nagered = angered
toon_army_redlichtie85
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Comment #43@ toon1978
I never mentioned to you anything about Milner lol ?? V
toon_army_redlichtie85
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Comment #44@ toon1978
I never mentioned to you anything about Milner lol ??
toon_army_redlichtie85
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Comment #45toon1978
I never mentioned to you anything about Milner lol ??
shearermania
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Comment #46BRUTOOn ahhhhhh theres a shola basher if there ever was one…..sure he post under a different pseudonym now…
totally forgot brutoon or brutool as i used to address him..
I still love Indian
naptoon
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Comment #47tds
a list of players who can / potentially could do it at highest level.
rooney
gerrard
wilshire
a young (crap this tourney i know)
walcott
a johnson (imo he doesnt come up short when playing among man city elite)
kyle walker
a cole
sturridge
i know theyre not all at the tourny but i think given a chance these players have the ability to impose themselves in games if roy gives them a chance they do it in prem and cl so i dont see why not. we certainly have the quality to impose ourselves on the likes of sweden ukraine.
shearermania
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Comment #48well back to the footie…..Milner i think is one of the finest footballers in the country…great engine, great tecnique, great shot, versatile….he just messed it all up by going to the emir
Toon1978
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Comment #49nufc786
Exactly mate. They know no different though in their defence. They have never experienced getting up at 5am, going to work and doing a 12 hour shift 6 days a week for under £500. These Footballers have been pampered all their lives and to be fair i suppose that’s going to happen considering the price of players these days. N.Ranger is a prime example. He is doing something we all would love to do but he is p1ssing it up the wall and he won’t realise the opportunity he has now until he is to old and he is stacking shelves in bloody Tesco.
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Comment #50I want an answer from Indian, he’s hiding I think. Every time he comes on I will pester him for his answer. Beter be good.Anyone else not curious or just a bit peeved at his unqualified blurt?
Toon1978
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Comment #51toon_army_redlichtie85
Forgive me. I thought you where insinuating 🙂
shearermania
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Comment #52ates man city…….why pass up the opportunity to become a legend…it weights up more than trophies….look at shearer who would remember him and worship him like we do had he played for manure…..no one
toon_army_redlichtie85
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Comment #53Toon1978
Na mate, just commenting on the game in hand tomorrow 🙂
tarie4
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Comment #54I want England to win tonight, so that they get humiliated by the Germans again, now that would be funny.
Beardo
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Comment #55I’m English and I feel sick in the pit of my stomach if I try and cheer the likes of Gerrard, Terry, Cole and Rooney – ostracise me for being anti-English almighty zealots!
Toon1978
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:31 PM
Comment #56tarie4
Are you a Jock lol????
t00ntime
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Comment #57Why are england boring to watch for playing defensivly
But spain are world class because they pass it around the middle all game, i understand that its good how they can pass it but how people watch a season of barca is beyond me… After 1 game i’m bored as f***, passing it around the middle without much threat and then every now and then trying to attack but of it fails just go back to the middle…
The commentators saying there passing is too good for there opponents… Well now that teams just let them pass it at the middle and when they come foward counter, real madrid are the new top dogs in spain…
Also hate the commentators talking about xavi, like yesterday, 4 times he said “a mistake by xavi, u only get one a match”
What!?! Lol
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Comment #58tarie trying desperately to join the list.
Indian Magpie
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:37 PM
Comment #59I dont like England National football team, am i obligated, i support italy.
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:38 PM
Comment #60Agreed, Spains matches are now something of a dread for me, not entertaining at all,rarely has an end product, I think they are like the dangling medallion on a chain, hypnotically tedious and then. . . BAM! I hope England grind these pitter-patter nonsensical primadonnas into the dust ha ha muahhaaaaaa.
Indian Magpie
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Comment #61SPAIN pass it around in midfield because no other national team has the guts to have a go at them and put 9 players behind the ball. hence they must be patient and keep possession and make play.
shearermania
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Comment #62why dont the two of you just go and get a room….
Toon1978
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Comment #63Tsunki
I think is clever the way Spain play. They bore to opposition silly by passing and passing and passing and when eventually they see the Oppo drop off to sleep, they pounce and score lol. Great way to win Leagues lol.
Indian Magpie
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Comment #64support england why?
close to 10 years, no 1 knows if gerrard and lampard can play together.
QFs thats it, cant take penalties, never mind practicing
Select Liverpool rejects
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Comment #65Ok Indian, it is a NUFC blog, but NUFC is an English PL team, predominanly followed by Englishmen. As such, a random anti-English statement with no qualification will not go down well and you knew that. If you were supporting an Indian squad which was feasibly in reach of competing against us I would understand. But you support Italy – have you always supported them, or have you recently (as even maybe today) just decided to root for them? Whatever the case it is immaterial. Strangely I am not objecting on pure patriotic grounds, more on the thought that your strange utterings are invariably deliberately irritating, like a playground insult, a thumbing of the nose thing. You are a gratuitously controversial character. From now on Indian, I have taken a personal dislike to you and your ‘opinion’ and I also want to confirm my long standing distrust that you use ‘Magpie’ in your name.
You are now officially superfluous IMHO.
MagpiesFlyHigh
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Comment #66I don’t like the England National football team. I am obligated. I support Wales.
(bit like I’m Spartacus)
shearermania
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Comment #67Indian soooooooooo how about the cricket then ???????
Toon1978
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Comment #68Indian Magpie
I am surprised you like NUFC because we are quite similar to England. Ain’t won FA since the 60s lol and we very rarely get anywhere in the cup competitions of late, getting knocked out by clubs 2 divisions below us hahaha.
Indian Magpie
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Comment #69Superfluous fine.
I am supporting ITALY on this match.
the statement is not random,
i have never supported and will never support england at any sport. it will not bother any 1 i know but that is the status quo
shearermania
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:51 PM
Comment #70Tsunki,……im with Indian on this one….theres hardly an Englishman in out team…he has a right to speak his mind and say he does not support England and his reasons are ok in my opinion…lets not bash him because of his patriotism or lack there off…
this is a guy who wouldn’t condone the great ameobi to play for India…..
respect peoples opinions
Tsunki
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Comment #71Indian, you just don’t get it? ‘Support England why?’ followed by a list of disappointing traits of the national side – how come your a Nufc supporter then? Bit of a paradox that, isn’t it. I used to be one of your few ‘benefit of the doubt’ backers but another idiom comprising the words ‘chips’, ‘the’, ‘p*ssed’, and ‘on’ comes to mind.
Indian Magpie
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Comment #72shearermania
English cricket or cricket in general
Toon1978
strange no, i do like county cricket but not national team of cricket
Rotonda heights
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Comment #73it’s so sad the mentality towards spain and barcelona and people calling it boring. Technically it is fantastic to watch. just because we sadly are not as good at keeping the ball doesn’t mean it’s boring. often find that in life people call something boring to deflect their own inability to do something as well.
Toon1978
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Comment #74Tsunki
You swallowed a dictionary lol. You have ripped Indian Magpie a new ass hole with comment 65 hahahahaha.
Indian Magpie
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Comment #75Tsunki
Can u please tell me are you angry/disappointed with me that i am not supporting England or writing it here.
If i had not written it here u wd have been OKAY
MagpiesFlyHigh
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Comment #76Tsunki
One of the good things about this blog is that it is global. There’s lads on here from Peru, Denmark, India, Malaya, Australia. We all love the Toon but national loyalties are different.
I can’t stand the English National team – there are some disgraceful characters donning the shirt, and even worse the way they are hyped up by a braying national media. Okay there’s some decent players, I don’t like Gerrard but admire him as a player, and I always wanted Shearer to score but they are not my team. Newcastle are.
Because we have two players there, I had hoped France would rise above the dressing room infighting and play more than the sum of the parts, but Blanc can’t hack it.
Football is global and it is right the Toon should have support across the globe Support England if you’re English, allow the rest of us to support our own national sides. Indian has a problem. He doesn’t have a national football side of any merit. So he can pick who to support anyone he likes. Am not bothered. Don’t like him slagging Shola, or preening when he gets first post, but he does talk some , and it ain’t good getting personal – remember Angry giving anyone who dared to disagree with him a dump of verbal diaorheaa. Back off us non-English.
ToonAndy
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #77—————————KRUL————————–
DEBUCHY-VERTONGHEN-COLLO-SANTON
—————–TIOTE———CABAYE————–
BEN ARFA——-WIJNALDUM—–BELHANDA
—————————CISSE————————-
How much??
shearermania
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #78Indian…. general….im an ex geordie living in Melbourne….
MagpiesFlyHigh
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #79Never thought I’d defend Indian’s right to free speech 🙂
Indian Magpie
Jun 24, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Comment #80Shearermania
eversince i started following football i dont like cricket that much, however i do like the bushrangers and the yorkshire phoenix
Dare i say Hate indian national cricket team