There is no hiding from the fact that England have looked anything but tournament favourites so far at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate’s side scraped past Serbia and turned in a lifeless performance in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Denmark.
Hopes of football finally coming home appear to be fading fast, but is the negativity going a bit too far?
England still have one of the best squads at the Euros – and they are far from the first big team to struggle in the group stage of a major tournament.
NetBet is here to provide five examples that may just rekindle hope for Three Lions supporters…
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Lionel Messi’s Argentina
Less than two years ago, Argentina were on the wrong end of perhaps the biggest shock in World Cup history.
The South American side lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opener and their tournament looked to be heading one way – early elimination.
But the squad, spearheaded by captain Messi, regrouped and refocused to pick up crucial wins over Mexico and then Poland.
Argentina proceeded to take the knockout stage by storm, eventually beating France on penalties in an epic final to clinch the trophy.
2. Kylian Mbappe’s France
Four years prior to France’s defeat to Argentina in Qatar, it was Les Bleus who held the trophy aloft after defeating Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 World Cup finale.
They brushed aside Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium in the earlier knockout rounds but their displays in the group stage were nearly as underwhelming as England’s so far at Euro 2024.
France scraped past Australia and Peru, winning 2-1 and 1-0, before a drab 0-0 with Denmark.
A tame draw with the Danes? Sounds familiar…
3. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal
Portugal’s success at Euro 2016 is perhaps the best example of why no side should abandon hope at a major tournament.
Fernando Santos’ side drew against Iceland, Austria and Hungary in the group stage and only progressed as one of the best third-placed teams.
Portugal then went on to win just one knockout match in normal time (the 2-0 victory over Wales in the semi-finals) on their way to an unlikely triumph.
Eder’s sensational extra-time strike won the final against France, earning Cristiano Ronaldo the first international accolade of his career.
4. The Great Spain Side
Okay, we know that Spain’s success at the 2010 World Cup was mostly down to outstanding football from some of the world’s greatest ever players.
However, it is easy to forget that after their first match, La Roja found themselves in a spot of bother.
Spain were defeated 1-0 by Switzerland and questions were asked at the time about whether their array of world-class stars had it in them to live up to expectation on football’s grandest stage.
They did okay in the end, though…
5. 1966
And so we end with perhaps the most pertinent example of them all.
England’s only success at a major tournament came at the 1966 World Cup, when the Three Lions memorably defeated the likes of France, Argentina, Portugal and finally West Germany on home soil.
But after the first game, serious questions were asked of Sir Alf Ramsey and his team.
England drew 0-0 with Uruguay, despite the fact the South American side were reduced to nine men.
However, football came home in the end…
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