I think 2006 stands out as the hype-over-reality show, people seeming to think every other team in the tournament were just stooges, existing purely as something for England to beat and proclaim their superiority; tabloids and studio pundits revving everyone up on the basis that we had the best individual players, not thinking that keeping hold of the ball is usually the most crucial part of a tournament winning team and that that skill back in the Premier League was predominantly displayed by the foreign players. And in 2010 we read Germans scared of Lions in a tabloid, backed up by the likes of Shearer claiming that only two of the German team would get in the England side. It was as if nobody had seen the group stage struggles against USA, Algeria and Slovenia!
There does seem to be a weight of expectation on the players, while of course you can’t tell the public not to get excited about the nation’s prospects. Even the level-headed journalists on the Libero podcast were “bullish” about England’s chances at the beginning of this World Cup. They could point to the Final being just minutes away, but it did seem a familiar ending that no one could recall somehow.
Progress has been undeniable, but like with Harry Kane, there does seem to be a ceiling for their accomplishments at the moment.
if you’d written this 15-20 years ago it might have been more accurate. you’ll always get the odd giddy fool, but i find most england supporters are realistic about our chances going into major tournaments these days. i don’t read the tabloids, twitter etc for obvious reasons, but generally people accept that there are usually a couple of teams better than us and, after the embarrassingly bad tournaments 2010-2016, it’s just nice to have a hard working team that isn’t full of nobheads representing us. my advice would be to stop seeing only what you want to see, get offline, turn talksport off and get out there and speak to people. 👍
It is obvious: Argentina got robbed in the final of 2026 as in the finals of 1990 and 2014. FIFA favoured Spain with a better calendar (one more day of rest) and also Spain had BIG help from the referee
This smacks of sour grapes from a jock! England did very well and played free flowing entertaining football. We are 1/3 best in the world which makes a mockery of this article. We have had challenging times, yes. But we never play like a team such as Argentina. We play fair and a credit to the players for holding their temper.
I think it's worth pointing out that the Football Association have been putting structures in place over the last 20 years to develop players. This has lead to a wide range of success at youth level, in particular winning the U21 Euros in 2023 and 2025. I know there is an issue with coaching in England and the barriers for entry, but I'd like to believe we're heading in the right direction.
Nonetheless, consistently making deep runs in tournaments is nothing to be sniffed at, even though England have come up short in the past few tournaments. It's easy to see this as going round in circles I guess
Good article. A slightly uncomfortable read, but it's the truth! The fans have to take stock, because the short-term-ism of fans in this country is just so frustrating sometimes. I am interested to see how England get on in the 2028 Euros, particularly with it being in the UK & Ireland, but if they don't win it - then, who knows what the reaction will be like? Probably worse than it is now!
Does today’s bizarre result change anything for England? Does it make the self perception more out of whack? Or does it help them in some small way, that they beat France? Or does it just confuse things more? I really can’t tell. Although I do know that if England had lost after being up by four goals, no one would have been coming home without a full security detail.
It was a nothing game Declan. As I said on my socials - its like a horse running the Grand national when the race has already finished, its dark, the lights are off, and everyones gone home.
There was no pressure on either team. It's not going to save the scathing post-tournament condemnations thats for sure.
In a competitive match with all to play for - France would never have conceded the goals in the manner that they did. And I doubt England would have conceded so many either.
Englishman here. I honestly don't know anyone who thought England had more than an outside chance of winning. France and Spain were clearly the best, Argentina are a good team with one genius, and them there 5-6 teams, including England, struggling to keep up. If you're 1-0 up with 10 minutes of a semifinal to go, you're entitled to be excited then disappointed, but I don't recognise what you're arguing here, from my own personal experience (Maybe it's because I don't read the tabloids or share things on X/Facebook with nationalist twits, however...)
Can't help thinking you're projecting a bit too much here, because of your admitted schadenfreude.
I don't think any England fans (or the team itself) feel that the team is entitled to win anything, they just hope they'll win - like anyone who supports any team, anywhere, ever.
When the team gets quite far in a competition it's entirely natural fans will feel a bit optimistic. That's not arrogance, that's just fans supporting their team.
Yeah the tabloids get all weird and jingoistic about it, and I'm sure Facebook follows suit, but you're entirely wrong in thinking that accurately sums up the vast majority.
I completely get that thinking that it's arrogance and collective delusion etc etc makes the schadenfreude feel sweeter, and if that helps you, then great.
You should be aware that it's not accurate though.
As an Englishman and Manchester United supporter I kind of agree with your points about entitlement and over expectations as far as the English Press and a large faction of England’s support is concerned, but I disagree when it comes to English clubs and their quota of homegrown players and scapegoating of managers. For a start, as a United fan, Sir Alex’s ‘99 Treble winning side had a nucleus of Englishmen..Beckham, Scholes etc. and at their best they were definitely world class players - the same for Steven Gerrard and going even further back the likes of Paul Gascoigne, so I don’t agree that the success of the EPL is purely down to foreign imports. As far as this particular tournament, it’s right to criticise Tuchel. His tactics were shit; England go one nil up against Argentina and what does he do? He tries to sit on the lead by bringing on defenders when Argentina were there for the taking, and they were. With the exception of Messi, they were beatable and but for Tuchel’s negativity England could’ve been in the final against Spain and not Argentina - as much as you might hate to admit it. He was brought in specifically NOT to do that and deserves all the criticism he gets. He’s being paid millions so I don’t feel any sympathy for him. You’re correct about the over-inflated opinion of the English press as far as English expectations are, but let’s be honest, the Scottish fans aren’t exactly quiet when it comes to World Cups are they (on the rare occasions they qualify that is)? It’s evident you don’t like England, and that’s fair enough since you’re a die hard scot, but I don’t agree with much of what you’ve said and it reads like sour grapes. Let’s be honest - Scottish football’s been shit as long as I can remember and I’m 59 years old.
Perhaps it’s more than football, as the rhetoric is that England (not the team) is the best, the most successful and will always be on the top.
Unfortunately, that kind of thinking has become a problem in itself: it feeds the perception of greatness and the expectations that accompany the team or group, don’t necessarily reflect reality.
This is a throwback to Empire and sadly this false perception is old and worn out, much used and outdated.
The team did the best they could but my own opinion is that teams are formed by people who understand each other, care for each other and share the same goals. If each one only plays to highlight his own expertise and skill, then that is the best way to NOT be a TEAM because individual skill and stardom would matter more. I’m not saying that that is what happened to England this time, but it makes one wonder how this team worked as a team and how the HYPE of “It’s coming HOME “ could have been been the wrong message after all. One of the other possibilities is that football as in other sports and events, requires a strong commitment to US v THEM. Tennis does but in a different way.
If individual players seek stardom and compete with each other
on the field, then it’s game over.
The culture of individual stardom cultivated by those who talent spot and pursue ‘marketability’ may have had a little more impact on the game than anyone could have anticipated.
Listen, it’s only a thought and I don’t know what happened in truth… let’s just say they gave their best and their best was bettered by their opponents.
Perhaps it is time to make NEW myths and legends. The world has changed since 1966. Let’s spare a thought for Our Boys and how they are doing today…after the match.
Coaches and managers may need a little more of a reset too. It’s 2026 and time to get psychologically and emotionally joined up.
The WE matters as much, if not more, than the individual in these settings.
“It is a reflection of a system that markets itself as the pinnacle of English football while relying heavily on foreign expertise to sustain that status.” This article sums up very well how I feel about supporting England as an English person but from a migrant background, ie conflicted, mainly because I see the fatal flaws of English society reflected in the fatal flaws of the England football team. This is the same country that will now spend the rest of the summer having Farage argue with a bin. It’s no coincidence.
I think 2006 stands out as the hype-over-reality show, people seeming to think every other team in the tournament were just stooges, existing purely as something for England to beat and proclaim their superiority; tabloids and studio pundits revving everyone up on the basis that we had the best individual players, not thinking that keeping hold of the ball is usually the most crucial part of a tournament winning team and that that skill back in the Premier League was predominantly displayed by the foreign players. And in 2010 we read Germans scared of Lions in a tabloid, backed up by the likes of Shearer claiming that only two of the German team would get in the England side. It was as if nobody had seen the group stage struggles against USA, Algeria and Slovenia!
There does seem to be a weight of expectation on the players, while of course you can’t tell the public not to get excited about the nation’s prospects. Even the level-headed journalists on the Libero podcast were “bullish” about England’s chances at the beginning of this World Cup. They could point to the Final being just minutes away, but it did seem a familiar ending that no one could recall somehow.
Progress has been undeniable, but like with Harry Kane, there does seem to be a ceiling for their accomplishments at the moment.
Great article.
if you’d written this 15-20 years ago it might have been more accurate. you’ll always get the odd giddy fool, but i find most england supporters are realistic about our chances going into major tournaments these days. i don’t read the tabloids, twitter etc for obvious reasons, but generally people accept that there are usually a couple of teams better than us and, after the embarrassingly bad tournaments 2010-2016, it’s just nice to have a hard working team that isn’t full of nobheads representing us. my advice would be to stop seeing only what you want to see, get offline, turn talksport off and get out there and speak to people. 👍
It is obvious: Argentina got robbed in the final of 2026 as in the finals of 1990 and 2014. FIFA favoured Spain with a better calendar (one more day of rest) and also Spain had BIG help from the referee
https://ezequieldoiny.substack.com/p/it-is-obvious-argentina-got-robbed?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8t2s5
This smacks of sour grapes from a jock! England did very well and played free flowing entertaining football. We are 1/3 best in the world which makes a mockery of this article. We have had challenging times, yes. But we never play like a team such as Argentina. We play fair and a credit to the players for holding their temper.
I think it's worth pointing out that the Football Association have been putting structures in place over the last 20 years to develop players. This has lead to a wide range of success at youth level, in particular winning the U21 Euros in 2023 and 2025. I know there is an issue with coaching in England and the barriers for entry, but I'd like to believe we're heading in the right direction.
Nonetheless, consistently making deep runs in tournaments is nothing to be sniffed at, even though England have come up short in the past few tournaments. It's easy to see this as going round in circles I guess
Wish the Scottish FA did this - they kept the same guy in as U21 coach for 10 years only sacked him now.
Okay, but let's address the sour grapes in the room as well:
Scotland wishes they could do well enough to fuel *any* kind of delusion.
How petty are you?
Please grow up.
Not as petty as the England fans singing 'Scotland get battered' just as Argentina score to beat them..... that was beautiful viewing.
Good article. A slightly uncomfortable read, but it's the truth! The fans have to take stock, because the short-term-ism of fans in this country is just so frustrating sometimes. I am interested to see how England get on in the 2028 Euros, particularly with it being in the UK & Ireland, but if they don't win it - then, who knows what the reaction will be like? Probably worse than it is now!
Does today’s bizarre result change anything for England? Does it make the self perception more out of whack? Or does it help them in some small way, that they beat France? Or does it just confuse things more? I really can’t tell. Although I do know that if England had lost after being up by four goals, no one would have been coming home without a full security detail.
It was a nothing game Declan. As I said on my socials - its like a horse running the Grand national when the race has already finished, its dark, the lights are off, and everyones gone home.
There was no pressure on either team. It's not going to save the scathing post-tournament condemnations thats for sure.
In a competitive match with all to play for - France would never have conceded the goals in the manner that they did. And I doubt England would have conceded so many either.
Englishman here. I honestly don't know anyone who thought England had more than an outside chance of winning. France and Spain were clearly the best, Argentina are a good team with one genius, and them there 5-6 teams, including England, struggling to keep up. If you're 1-0 up with 10 minutes of a semifinal to go, you're entitled to be excited then disappointed, but I don't recognise what you're arguing here, from my own personal experience (Maybe it's because I don't read the tabloids or share things on X/Facebook with nationalist twits, however...)
Hi Andy! We think you might enjoy our latest article about the Argentina game
Great piece. England’s failure as host nation for Euro 2028 will be even better.
Can't help thinking you're projecting a bit too much here, because of your admitted schadenfreude.
I don't think any England fans (or the team itself) feel that the team is entitled to win anything, they just hope they'll win - like anyone who supports any team, anywhere, ever.
When the team gets quite far in a competition it's entirely natural fans will feel a bit optimistic. That's not arrogance, that's just fans supporting their team.
Yeah the tabloids get all weird and jingoistic about it, and I'm sure Facebook follows suit, but you're entirely wrong in thinking that accurately sums up the vast majority.
I completely get that thinking that it's arrogance and collective delusion etc etc makes the schadenfreude feel sweeter, and if that helps you, then great.
You should be aware that it's not accurate though.
As an Englishman and Manchester United supporter I kind of agree with your points about entitlement and over expectations as far as the English Press and a large faction of England’s support is concerned, but I disagree when it comes to English clubs and their quota of homegrown players and scapegoating of managers. For a start, as a United fan, Sir Alex’s ‘99 Treble winning side had a nucleus of Englishmen..Beckham, Scholes etc. and at their best they were definitely world class players - the same for Steven Gerrard and going even further back the likes of Paul Gascoigne, so I don’t agree that the success of the EPL is purely down to foreign imports. As far as this particular tournament, it’s right to criticise Tuchel. His tactics were shit; England go one nil up against Argentina and what does he do? He tries to sit on the lead by bringing on defenders when Argentina were there for the taking, and they were. With the exception of Messi, they were beatable and but for Tuchel’s negativity England could’ve been in the final against Spain and not Argentina - as much as you might hate to admit it. He was brought in specifically NOT to do that and deserves all the criticism he gets. He’s being paid millions so I don’t feel any sympathy for him. You’re correct about the over-inflated opinion of the English press as far as English expectations are, but let’s be honest, the Scottish fans aren’t exactly quiet when it comes to World Cups are they (on the rare occasions they qualify that is)? It’s evident you don’t like England, and that’s fair enough since you’re a die hard scot, but I don’t agree with much of what you’ve said and it reads like sour grapes. Let’s be honest - Scottish football’s been shit as long as I can remember and I’m 59 years old.
Perhaps it’s more than football, as the rhetoric is that England (not the team) is the best, the most successful and will always be on the top.
Unfortunately, that kind of thinking has become a problem in itself: it feeds the perception of greatness and the expectations that accompany the team or group, don’t necessarily reflect reality.
This is a throwback to Empire and sadly this false perception is old and worn out, much used and outdated.
The team did the best they could but my own opinion is that teams are formed by people who understand each other, care for each other and share the same goals. If each one only plays to highlight his own expertise and skill, then that is the best way to NOT be a TEAM because individual skill and stardom would matter more. I’m not saying that that is what happened to England this time, but it makes one wonder how this team worked as a team and how the HYPE of “It’s coming HOME “ could have been been the wrong message after all. One of the other possibilities is that football as in other sports and events, requires a strong commitment to US v THEM. Tennis does but in a different way.
If individual players seek stardom and compete with each other
on the field, then it’s game over.
The culture of individual stardom cultivated by those who talent spot and pursue ‘marketability’ may have had a little more impact on the game than anyone could have anticipated.
Listen, it’s only a thought and I don’t know what happened in truth… let’s just say they gave their best and their best was bettered by their opponents.
Perhaps it is time to make NEW myths and legends. The world has changed since 1966. Let’s spare a thought for Our Boys and how they are doing today…after the match.
Coaches and managers may need a little more of a reset too. It’s 2026 and time to get psychologically and emotionally joined up.
The WE matters as much, if not more, than the individual in these settings.
“It is a reflection of a system that markets itself as the pinnacle of English football while relying heavily on foreign expertise to sustain that status.” This article sums up very well how I feel about supporting England as an English person but from a migrant background, ie conflicted, mainly because I see the fatal flaws of English society reflected in the fatal flaws of the England football team. This is the same country that will now spend the rest of the summer having Farage argue with a bin. It’s no coincidence.