BACK PAGE: 2001

bold Manager Sven Goran Eriksson predicted a glittering new era for England after their astonishing 5-1 away win in Germany. He forsaw England peaking until 2008. However, the ‘Golden Generation’ lost in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2002 and 2006 and the Euros in 2004, before failing to reach Euro 2008.