​England will face Argentina in their fourth World Cup semi-final after clawing out a 2-1 victory over Norway in extra time on Saturday. The European Championship runners-up were made to work hard in Florida, but Jude Bellingham’s composure amid the Miami heat and humidity sent fans in the stadium and across the UK into a frenzy.
Wednesday’s clash against Argentina in Atlanta will mark England’s seventh appearance in a major tournament semi-final, not counting the 1968 European Championship when only four teams qualified for the finals. Here is a look back at England’s previous last-four campaigns.
Portugal carried a perfect record into their Wembley meeting, with seven of their 14 goals coming from the inspired Eusebio. Yet Bobby Charlton struck in either half, and although Eusebio pulled one back from the penalty spot late on, it proved only a consolation as England marched on in history.
In the 1990 World Cup semi-final, England’s path to glory looked clear as Mark Wright and Peter Beardsley combined to foil Olaf Thon of West Germany. Paul Gascoigne’s tears and the dawning of England’s penalty struggle followed in the wake of that landmark win 24 years earlier, when they had defeated the same opponents in the final.
Gary Lineker equalised with a deflected effort by Andreas Brehme at the Stadio delle Alpi, but in the shootout, Stuart Pearce’s kick was saved and Chris Waddle volleyed over. A familiar foe and a familiar outcome as England’s long wait persisted.
The Euro 1996 semi-final saw England take the lead through Alan Shearer, only for Stefan Kuntz to level. Gascoigne almost found a winner in extra time, but the teams could not be separated after 120 minutes. Gareth Southgate’s notorious miss in that shootout against Germany is well remembered.
Today’s manager, Southgate, has guided England back to the brink of major honours, and a sense of belief lingered after Kieran Trippier’s early free-kick suggested they could again reach the latter stages. Yet Croatia had other ideas, with Ivan Perisic striking in the second half at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium before Mario Mandzukic struck in extra time to end England’s hopes.
England’s fortunes again turned on a dramatic twist when Mikkel Damsgaard’s goal gave Denmark the lead, but Simon Kjaer’s own goal pushed the semi-final into extra time at Wembley. A nerve-wracking shootout was avoided when Harry Kane converted after his penalty was saved, lifting England past their hoodoo in the semi-finals. Yet Euro 2021’s final neared the same heartbreak against Italy.
The current era has already seen England deliver a high point, with Ollie Watkins netting a late winner against the Netherlands to send Gareth Southgate’s side toward the Euro 2024 final, a moment that has kept hope alive for a new generation of England fans. As the team prepares for their upcoming match against Argentina, the memory of past semi-final heartbreaks serves both as a warning and a motivation to push for glory at the World Cup.