History offers knock-out hope to misfiring England

In terms of performance, if not points, England have had an unimpressive 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.

In fact, Gareth Southgate's side - who won Group C after a 1-0 win and two draws - are now regarded as slight tournament favourites, though mostly as they would avoid hosts Germany, France, Portugal and Spain until the final.

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 draws against tournament debutants Ireland and Netherlands, 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