Euro 2020, held in the summer of 2021 due to the pandemic, was a tournament that saw England come tantalisingly close to European glory.
Under the management of Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions coaching staff, players, and fans embarked on a collective dream that gripped the nation.
As we gear up for the latest edition of the tournament and favorable England to win Euro 2024 odds, here’s a look back at each stage of the Three Lions’ memorable campaign.
Group Stage
England found themselves in Group D, alongside Croatia, the Czech Republic, and rivals Scotland, which had the potential to be tricky.
The campaign kicked off at Wembley, where England faced Croatia, the team that had ended their World Cup dreams in 2018.
England started the tournament with a measure of revenge, securing a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half strike from Raheem Sterling.
The following match, a tense 0-0 draw with Scotland, tested English nerves but once again highlighted the team’s defensive strengths.
The Three Lions concluded the group stage with a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic, with Sterling’s crucial goal again making all the difference.
England finished top of their group by a comfortable three points, and Southgate’s men notably advanced to the knockout stages without having conceded a goal.
Round of 16
The round of 16 brought another historic footballing rivalry to the fore as England faced their arch-nemesis, Germany.
It was a fixture loaded with past emotional baggage at Wembley, but England managed to rewrite the narratives.
In a tightly contested match, it was once again Sterling who broke the deadlock, giving England the lead in the 75th minute.
Harry Kane sealed the victory with a late header, marking a 2-0 win and sending England into the quarter-finals.
Quarter-Finals
The quarter-finals saw England face Ukraine in Rome, their only match outside of Wembley in the entire tournament.
The Three Lions dominated the game, with Kane scoring after just four minutes. Harry Maguire and another strike from Kane quickly followed in the second half.
A goal from Jordan Henderson, the then Liverpool midfielder first for his country, made it a resounding 4-0 victory.
Semi-Finals
Back in London, England met dark horses Denmark in what would become an epic semi-final clash at Wembley.
Denmark took the lead with a stunning free-kick from Mikkel Damsgaard – remarkably, the first goal England had conceded in the tournament.
However, an own goal from Simon Kjær brought the Three Lions level. The match extended into extra time where England were awarded a penalty.
Kane saw his initial shot saved, but he scored on the rebound, securing a 2-1 win and sending his side to their first European Championship final.
The Final
The final against Italy was a dramatic and tense affair, held at a packed Wembley Stadium, which was mobbed by rogue fans before kick-off.
Despite the pre-match controversy, England got off to a dream start, with Luke Shaw scoring the fastest goal in Euro final history just two minutes into the game.
However, Italy grew into the match and equalized in the second half through veteran Leonardo Bonucci.
The match went to extra time and then to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Despite efforts from the young squad, misses from Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka meant Italy won the shootout 3-2.
England’s run to the final of Euro 2020 was a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with memorable moments that united fans and showcased a team that had come a long way under Gareth Southgate’s guidance.
While the tournament ended in heartbreak, the journey itself rekindled a belief in the England national team and laid strong foundations for future success.
As another European Championships approaches, England are the favourites in the UEFA Euro 2024 betting, and they can attempt to use their experience from three years ago to lift the silverware in Germany.
