England’s World Cup woes: from Maradona’s hand to Beckham’s kick

From a bustling sports bar in Chicago to the quiet terraces of London, English fans clutch the chant ‘It’s coming home’ while the World Cup trophy remains elusive. Since lifting the 1966 title, the Three Lions have endured a six‑decade saga of missed chances, controversial moments and narrow defeats. In the 1986 quarter‑final, Argentina’s Diego Maradona produced the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England. His second strike, later dubbed the Goal of the Century, would likely have been reviewed by VAR in today’s game. During the 1998 Round of 16, England’s David Beckham kicked Argentina’s Diego Simeone while the latter lay on the pitch, prompting a red card for Simeone. England eventually lost the shoot‑out 4‑3, and Beckham received threatening letters in the weeks that followed.

DRC's early lead forces England into a late fight at the World Cup

At the 1982 World Cup, England remained unbeaten, winning three matches and drawing two. Despite the record, they failed to progress because goal difference eliminated them. In the 1990 semi‑final against West Germany, goalkeeper Peter Shilton correctly guessed the side for each German penalty but could not save any. The defeat marked the start of England’s long run of penalty‑shootout losses, a pattern that persisted until 2018. The 1970 quarter‑final saw England leading West Germany 2‑0 for most of the match before a sick keeper was replaced, and the substitute conceded three goals in quick succession. The three‑goal collapse sent the defending champions home early. The most recent tournament in 2022 ended for England with a mere participation trophy, as they failed to advance beyond the group stage. That outcome reinforced the lingering question of when the World Cup will finally return to English soil.