England’s semi-finals story
England face Denmark tonight aiming to reach their first major tournament final since 1966. It will be the fifth time the Three Lions have played in the semi-finals of a major tournament, not including the 1968 European Championship when only four teams qualified for the finals. Here is how England got on in their previous last-four encounters. ENGLAND 2 PORTUGAL 1 1966 World Cup (Wembley)
Portugal went into the clash boasting a 100 percent record and with talismanic forward Eusebio. But England put them out thanks to a brace from Bobby Charlton. Portugal pulled a goal back from the spot, Eusebio getting on the scoresheet yet again, but they could not find an equaliser. The rest, as they say, is history. GERMANY 1 ENGLAND 1 (Ger won on pens) 1990 World Cup (Stadio delle Alpi, Turin) The match finished 1-1 after extra-time, with Gary Lineker firing home a late leveller after Andreas Brehme had put the Germans ahead. In the shoot-out, all of the first six takers scored with their efforts. However, Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle then missed either side of Olaf Thon’s successful effort as England tumbled out of the competition.
GERMANY 1 ENGLAND 1 (Ger won on pens) 1996 European Championship (Wembley) Alan Shearer got the tournament hosts off to a flying start when he headed in the opener after just three minutes, but Stefan Kuntz slid home an equaliser soon after. Neither side could find a winner during regulation or extra-time, meaning yet again a penalty shoot-out was required. After all 10 players scored, it went to sudden death where Gareth Southgate had his effort saved before Andreas Moller smashed home the decisive spot-kick to break English hearts.
CROATIA 2 ENGLAND 1 2018 World Cup (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow) Gareth Southgate’s side had been given an ideal start through Kieran Trippier’s 20-yard free-kick after just five minutes, but Ivan Perisic scored a 68th-minute equaliser to send the game into extratime. England had defied expectations going into the tournament, but Croatia’s experience shone through as Mario Mandzukic’s winner saw them progress to face France in the final, which they lost.