THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
1966
England invented the game, and in 1966, at home, they won the World Cup: Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick in the 4-2 final against West Germany. It remains their only trophy, sixty years on.
THE GHOST OF THE AZTECA
In the 1986 quarter-final at the Estadio Azteca, Diego Maradona scored the Hand of God, then dribbled half the pitch for the Goal of the Century. England lost 2-1.
THE PENALTY CURSE
Shootout heartbreaks followed: West Germany in the 1990 semi-final, with Pearce and Waddle missing and Gascoigne in tears; Argentina in 1998, the night Beckham was sent off; Portugal in 2006; and Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, played in 2021. England did finally win a World Cup shootout in 2018.
2026
England walk back into the Azteca to face Mexico in the round of 16, at the very ground where it went wrong. Is this the year it finally comes home?
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THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
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