Euro 2024: Can England make the most of golden opportunity?

By the time next summer's Euros roll around, England's wait to win a major tournament will stand at 58 years.

Since then it's been a case of looking on, wondering why, as Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands and Portugal have all tasted success at either a World Cup or European Championships. These are nations that England expect to be competing with at the business end of tournaments, opposition they strive to beat when trophies are handed out.

Adding more to their frustration is the fact that the old Czechoslovakia, Denmark and Greece have all been crowned champions of Europe during their period of waiting.

If Alf Ramsey were alive today, he would probably go against his normal demeanour and shout: "what the hell have we been doing wrong all this time?"

In truth, England haven't done a lot wrong. The lottery of the penalty shootout has not gone their way; Bukayo Saka the latest to need a shoulder to cry on after the Euro 2020 final. Go back to the Euro 96 semi-final against Germany and Paul Gascoigne nearly getting on the end of an Alan Shearer delivery; any connection, with the game gone to extra-time and level at 1-1, would likely have seen England advance. Again, they failed when it came to the subsequent spot kicks.

On other occasions, the Three Lions have simply been not good enough or have failed to fire.

And then came the nadir against Iceland at Euro 2016. Roy Hodgson's side 2-1 down after 18 minutes, unable to lift themselves thereafter. England beaten by a country with a population the size of Coventry. So much then for the pre-match thoughts of Chris Waddle on BBC 5 Live: "Let's be realistic, England are playing a Championship side tonight".

Hodgson was a broken man when he eventually spoke to the media, this