Excellent odds for punters on more England penalty pain at Euro 2016

Argentina v England (round of 16, 1998 World Cup)

France ’98 was the stage on which some younger punters will have been introduced to the idea of England World Cup mishaps, in this famous fray, with the Three Lions again going out to bitter rivals – this time South American powerhouse Argentina.

After Michael Owen scored his most memorable goal and golden boy David Beckham saw red for a kick on now Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, England were forced into another shoot-out, with La Albiceleste winning 4-3 after poor efforts from David Batty and Paul Ince. Pure anguish against the Argentines…

England v Portugal (quarter-final, 2006 World Cup)

Portugal had already proven to be particular penalty pains for the Three Lions in Euro 2004, and in Germany ’06 they pipped a much-lauded England outfit featuring Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to a semi-final spot again after a fraught set of spot-kicks.

Following a stalemate and extra-time the Navigators easily won 3-1 on penalties, with the one and only Cristiano Ronaldo converting the winner with Portuguese panache. What was more worrying was that the Three Lions fumbled all but one, thanks to cool customer Owen Hargreaves, with Jamie Carragher and even spot-kick specialists Lampard and Gerrard missing theirs.

Ousted from European Championships

England couldn’t possibly also hold the joint worst penalty shootout record for the European Championships too right? They do, alongside the Dutch, with English agony occurring in 1996, 2004 and 2012.

Germany v England (semi-final, Euro 1996)

This one stings extra as England were in fact the hosts of Euro ’96, dreaming of another international trophy triumph on their own patch. Who stood in their way this time? Yep, you guessed it, Germany, with Die Mannschaft eventual competition winners on enemy territory.

At Wembley no less, the one and only Coral ambassador Alan Shearer but England ahead before a Stefan Kuntz equaliser forced penalties. Of course, the Germans converted all of theirs in a ruthless performance, which saw them win the shootout 6-5, as Gareth Southgate scuppered the chance to keep his country in it – instigating the famous Pizza Hut advert.

See the shoot-out:

And don’t forget Southgate’s Pizza Hut advert:

Portugal v England (quarter-final, Euro 2004)

Yes another big tournament quarter-final, another England exit in a shootout at the hands of the Deco-inspired Portuguese. This time it had been an enthralling game with last-gasp extra-time goals. Though English optimism was not to last as it turned to penalties, with Rui Costa the only one to be off target for the tournament hosts, while skipper David Beckham and much-maligned Darius Vassell missed for the Three Lions who again succumbed 6-5.

England v Italy (quarter-finals, Euro 2012)

Does a last eight exit sound familiar? This time against Italy in Poland and Ukraine, the English came out second once more in the Russian roulette of penalties.

The Three Lions shootout shame was already a theme and anrrative in its own right by this point, so under pressure, the Azzurri triumphed 4-2 with Ashley Young and Ashely Cole the culprits who missed for England. Also, notable was Andrea Pirlo’s bold Panenka penalty, after Three Lions stopper Joe Hart apparently annoyed him.

So, there you have it – a showcase of England’s spot-kick shootout schoolings. Fancy that 4/1 flutter for an exit on penalties in Euro 2016?

Related

Read more on England’s Euro 2016 journey in our special archive.