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| England’s World Cup openers: From triumph to disaster | England’s World Cup openers: From triumph to disaster |
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| England 3 France 116 June 1982 | England 3 France 116 June 1982 |
| Roy Hodgson will be dreaming of his side emulating the start made by Ron Greenwood’s 1982 outfit, who dispatched a formidable French side in Bilbao. Bryan Robson scored England’s first after just 27 seconds, bursting onto Terry Butcher’s flick-on and hooking the ball past French keeper Jean-Luc Ettori. France equalised through Gérard Soler, but a thumping header from an inspired Robson, and a late Paul Mariner strike gave England a superb victory. France regrouped, and eventually lost to West Germany in a classic semi-final. England limped out of a tough second round group, and have started lethargically in World Cups ever since. | |
| Portugal 1 England 0 3 June 1986 | Portugal 1 England 0 3 June 1986 |
| The stifling heat of Monterrey proved too much for Bobby Robson’s side as they slipped to defeat against Portugal, with Benfica midfielder Carlos Manuel netting the only goal from close range on 76 minutes. Despite failing to beat surprise group winners Morocco, a Gary Lineker hat-trick against Poland ensured that England advanced in second place. England were eventually knocked out in the quarter finals by an Argentina side inspired by Diego Maradona. He scored two of the most famous goals in World Cup history, using first his left hand, and then his dazzling left foot to devastating effect. | The stifling heat of Monterrey proved too much for Bobby Robson’s side as they slipped to defeat against Portugal, with Benfica midfielder Carlos Manuel netting the only goal from close range on 76 minutes. Despite failing to beat surprise group winners Morocco, a Gary Lineker hat-trick against Poland ensured that England advanced in second place. England were eventually knocked out in the quarter finals by an Argentina side inspired by Diego Maradona. He scored two of the most famous goals in World Cup history, using first his left hand, and then his dazzling left foot to devastating effect. |
| England 1 Republic of Ireland 13 June 1990 | England 1 Republic of Ireland 13 June 1990 |
| An early Gary Lineker strike put England in the driving seat, but Everton midfielder Kevin Sheedy’s powerful 73rd minute strike ensured that Bobby Robson’s side again failed to make a winning start. The match later gained some infamy after Lineker admitted he defecated on the pitch during the second half - the striker attributed the incident to a stomach bug. England topped their group, and Robson’s team improved throughout the tournament to reach a semi final encounter with Germany. On a dramatic night in Turin, Gazza cried and Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missed spot-kicks in a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat. | An early Gary Lineker strike put England in the driving seat, but Everton midfielder Kevin Sheedy’s powerful 73rd minute strike ensured that Bobby Robson’s side again failed to make a winning start. The match later gained some infamy after Lineker admitted he defecated on the pitch during the second half - the striker attributed the incident to a stomach bug. England topped their group, and Robson’s team improved throughout the tournament to reach a semi final encounter with Germany. On a dramatic night in Turin, Gazza cried and Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missed spot-kicks in a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat. |
| England 2 Tunisia 015 June 1998 | England 2 Tunisia 015 June 1998 |
| Alan Shearer’s close-range header and a sumptuous late Paul Scholes strike ensured a comfortable start for Glenn Hoddle’s side. However, the fixture was marred by violent clashes between fans near the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, prompting prime minister Tony Blair to label the England fans involved “a total disgrace”. Despite defeat to Romania, England advanced to a second round clash with Argentina. On a night made famous by Michael Owen’s superb goal, then notorious for David Beckham’s red card, England eventually succumbed to penalties again. Paul Ince and David Batty missed the crucial spot-kicks, but Beckham bore the brunt of the nation’s fury. | |
| England 1 Sweden 12 June 2002 | England 1 Sweden 12 June 2002 |
| Sol Campbell, who had an effort disallowed in the 1998 defeat to Argentina, opened the scoring against Sweden in 2002 with a thumping header. However, Everton’s Niclas Alexandersson seized upon a weak clearance from Danny Mills and smashed a left-footed strike past David Seaman to ensure another slow start for England. However, David Beckham banished his own experiences of 1998 by scoring the only goal against Argentina, which saw Sven Goran Eriksson’s side advance at their expense. They were eventually knocked out in the quarter finals by Brazil, when Ronaldinho’s audacious free kick floated past a marooned David Seaman into the top corner. | Sol Campbell, who had an effort disallowed in the 1998 defeat to Argentina, opened the scoring against Sweden in 2002 with a thumping header. However, Everton’s Niclas Alexandersson seized upon a weak clearance from Danny Mills and smashed a left-footed strike past David Seaman to ensure another slow start for England. However, David Beckham banished his own experiences of 1998 by scoring the only goal against Argentina, which saw Sven Goran Eriksson’s side advance at their expense. They were eventually knocked out in the quarter finals by Brazil, when Ronaldinho’s audacious free kick floated past a marooned David Seaman into the top corner. |
| England 1 Paraguay 010 June 2006 | England 1 Paraguay 010 June 2006 |
| An underwhelming England managed to see off Paraguay in a turgid opener in Frankfurt, with an own goal from Paraguay skipper Carlos Gamarra in the third minute proving just enough for the Three Lions. England beat Trinidad and Tobago and drew 2-2 with Sweden on their way to topping the group, and edged past Ecuador to advance to the quarter finals. There, Wayne Rooney, who had struggled to make an impact in his debut World Cup, finally hit the headlines when he saw red for stamping on Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho. England battled to a 0-0 draw, but fell short yet again on penalties. | An underwhelming England managed to see off Paraguay in a turgid opener in Frankfurt, with an own goal from Paraguay skipper Carlos Gamarra in the third minute proving just enough for the Three Lions. England beat Trinidad and Tobago and drew 2-2 with Sweden on their way to topping the group, and edged past Ecuador to advance to the quarter finals. There, Wayne Rooney, who had struggled to make an impact in his debut World Cup, finally hit the headlines when he saw red for stamping on Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho. England battled to a 0-0 draw, but fell short yet again on penalties. |
| England 1 USA 112 June 2010 | England 1 USA 112 June 2010 |
| England got off to an uncharacteristically bright start against the side who knocked them out of their first tournament in 1950, when Steven Gerrard slotted past Tim Howard after four minutes. However, just before half time, an innocuous Clint Dempsey strike was fumbled into his own goal by Robert Green, and the points were shared. Fabio Capello’s team limped to second place in their group, setting up a last 16 tie with Germany. Although England suffered when Frank Lampard had a goal disallowed despite the ball bouncing off the crossbar and over the line, they were ultimately outclassed by a German outfit who ran out 4-1 winners in a dominant display. |