The 2022 World Cup in Qatar might be the unravelling of Gareth Southgate’s six-year tenure in charge of the England national team, as fans and pundits alike believe the former Middlesbrough man should call quits on what has been a largely successful stint in charge of the Three Lions — reaching the last four at Russia 2018 before losing the final of Euro 2020 to Italy.
Despite still being amongst the favourites to win the tournament in the World Cup 2022 betting, England’s form in their recent Nations League campaign — where they failed to win any of their six encounters against Hungary, Germany and Italy — is cause for concern as we gear up for a thrilling month of action in the Middle East.
With hopes and expectations not exactly high amongst a large portion of the England fanbase, let’s take a look at a few of the other occasions in which the Three Lions have flopped at World Cup.
2014: Bottom of the group in Brazil
Many England fans would rather forget the Roy Hodgson era, as they were embarrassed at both the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and Euro 2016 before he was finally replaced by Sam Allardyce — who infamously managed just one game before getting caught up in a scandal.
The 2014 World Cup campaign was, without doubt, the Three Lions’ worst. A squad somewhat in transition, England lost their first two games 2-1 to Italy and Uruguay. Already down and out, all Hodgson’s men could do was salvage some pride against Costa Rica. But they couldn’t even manage that, drawing 0-0 as the Central Americans topped the group and England crashed out in last place.
2010: Round of 16 exit
As a matter of fact, England didn’t fare much better in South Africa four years prior — being knocked out by their old foes Germany in the last 16. The Three Lions, who were among the favourites in the England World Cup odds, never really got going from the off, being held to draws against both the United States (1-1) and Algeria (0-0) before finally registering their first win against Slovenia — a 1-0 victory that secured their place in the knockouts.
Their round of 16 encounter against Germany is perhaps best known for Frank Lampard being denied a clear goal when trailing 2-1 in the 37th minute. The Germans would go on to win 4-1, and England fans have argued that the result might have been different had the Chelsea man’s goal stood ever since.
1958: Winless in Sweden
Believe it or not, eight years ago in Brazil wasn’t the first time England went winless in the World Cup. That was, in fact, in Sweden in 1958. In what was the Three Lions’ third appearance at the tournament, failing to impress in 1950 and 1954 as well, England drew all three of their group games against the Soviet Union, Brazil and Austria. They did force a play-off with the Soviets for a place in the quarters, but lost 1-0.
