ENGLAND take on Ukraine tonight in a massive Euro 2020 quarter-final.
It is the seventh time they have reached this stage of a major tournament in the last 25 years, dating back to Euro 96 on home soil.
And all the evidence suggests this evening’s game in Rome will be another tight affair.
SunSport takes a look back at the previous six crunch clashes – with just one win inside the 120 minutes and THREE penalty shootout defeats…
Euro 1996 – England 0-0 Spain (won 4-2 on pens)
It was 25 years ago that football was coming home as Gazza and Co fired England to the quarters on their home turf.
They beat Scotland and the Netherlands in the groups then played out a goalless draw with Spain.
Fernando Hierro hit the bar before Stuart Pearce put his 1990 demons away by scoring – then David Seaman saved from Miguel Nadal as England set up a semi-final date with Germany. But enough of that.
England vs Ukraine betting special
World Cup 2002 – England 1-2 Brazil
Six years later, at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, Sven-Goran Eriksson took the Three Lions past Denmark in the last 16 and faced Brazil.
Michael Owen pounced to give England the lead midway through the first half but then Ronaldinho took centre stage in a team full of superstars – including Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu.
The then-PSG man waltzed through midfield to tee up Rivaldo’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time then famously lobbed Seaman with that free-kick off the post to send the eventual champions through.
Euro 2004 – England 2-2 Portugal (lost 6-5 on pens)
Sven’s men were back in the quarters in 2004 – but after finishing second in the group were drawn against hosts Portugal.
Owen scored early before Wayne Rooney limped off then Helder Postiga equalised seven minutes from time to take it to extra-time where Rui Costa and Frank Lampard’s goals cancelled each other out.
Then came the dreaded penalties once again – captain David Beckham skied over and then Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo saved from Darius Vassell without his gloves… then stepped up with the winning kick.
World Cup 2006 – England 0-0 Portugal (lost 3-1 on pens)
History repeated itself two years later at the World Cup in Germany as England faced Portugal in the last eight once again.
And just like in 2004, the two teams could not be separated as Beckham and Rooney suffered heartache again – the skipper injured and young striker sent off for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho.
In the shootout, only Owen Hargreaves found the net for the Three Lions as Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were denied by that man Ricardo again – and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed it.
Euro 2012 – England 0-0 Italy (lost 4-2 on pens)
England had to wait another six years to reach the quarters after failing to qualify for Euro 2008 and then the limp performance in South Africa two years later.
At Euro 2012, they topped Group D but immediately ran into Italy with Andrea Pirlo at the peak of his powers – although neither sound found a breakthrough inside the 120 minutes.
Penalties returned and it was yet more devastation from the spot as Pirlo sat Joe Hart down with his cheeky panenka – before Ashley Young hit the bar and Ashley Cole’s effort was saved then Alessandro Diamanti scored the decider for the beaten finalists.
World Cup 2018 – England 2-0 Sweden
Finally, finally, a relatively routine quarter-final win for England – after a nerve-shredding shootout win over Colombia in the previous round.
On another baking hot day in the summer of 2018, millions crowded into pubs and beer gardens to celebrate Harry Maguire’s thumping header after half an hour.
Then on 59 minutes, Dele Alli got on the end of Jesse Lingard’s cross to nod in a second and seal Gareth Southgate’s side a spot in the semis where Croatia edged them out.
Now the crop of 2021 have their chance to write their names into the Three Lions history books…
⚽Get ALL of the latest England news and updates from Euro 2020
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
