History littered with poor starts that turned into success

DUESSELDORF, Germany: In terms of performance, if not points, England have had a wretched start to Euro 2024, but they, along with a host of others, have shown previously that fans should not be too quick to write off their prospects on the back of a grim group stage.

England's greatest triumph, winning the World Cup in 1966, came after they were panned for a feeble opening goalless draw against Uruguay, with manager Alf Ramsey setting a 58-year template for justifying the team's efforts in the face of media criticism.

In the 1986 World Cup dire England lost to Portugal and drew 0-0 with Morocco. Only after injuries and a suspension did coach Bobby Robson finally set fan-favourite Glenn Hoddle free and they were transformed, exiting unluckily in the quarter-finals via Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal and brilliant second.

It was a similar story four years later as, after two uninspired draws, England scraped past Egypt to leave Robson purring about topping the group having scored two goals - the same as this year's Euros team.

Something of a player revolution then changed England's tactics and two weeks later they were a penalty shootout defeat to West Germany away from the final and are held up to this day as the country's "next-best" after the Boys of '66.

England's Glorious Summer of 1996 is now remembered for Paul Gascoigne's spectacular goal against Scotland, a peerless win over the Netherlands, and another agonising semi-final shootout defeat by the Germans as football did not quite "come home".

However, that Euro campaign also started with a dour draw against Switzerland at Wembley that had the media knives out to hammer the players for their nightclub capers before the finals.

England were hardly tearing up trees on