England don reach semi-final of 2026 World Cup, beating Norway 2-1 with two goals from Jude Bellingham. Dis one na four times for last five major tournaments wey dem don reach semi-final. Before 2018, England only reach semi-final four times for entire history: 1966, 1968, 1990, and 1996. Now dem don double dat number for just eight years.
For many years, England failing for major tournament na running joke. Dem dey always say ‘It’s coming home’ but by July, plane don land and autopsy dey start. But now, fans dey get used to semis. Di only time dem no reach since 2018 na 2022 World Cup, when France beat dem 2-1 for quarter-final. France na defending champion and dem almost win am again.
Di low point na Euro 2016, when Iceland beat England 2-1 for last 16. Iceland get population around 400,000 and dem rank 34th for world. Many call am di most embarrassing result since 1950 World Cup when United States beat England. Alan Shearer talk say na di worst performance he ever see from England team: ‘Tactically inept, out-fought, out-thought, out-battled, totally hopeless.’
But dat defeat give England di kick dem need. Gareth Southgate come change di culture, and now Thomas Tuchel don take over with different approach and experience of winning big trophies. Tuchel dey praise di team mentality, especially how dem recover from behind. For dis World Cup, England don come back from goal down against Norway and DR Congo. Dat fit be di X-factor.
England now get quality players, but some argue di ‘Golden Generation’ of 2006 get more star names: David Beckham, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen. But dem flatter to deceive and lose for quarter-final to Portugal on penalties. Gerrard call dem ‘egotistical losers’ for podcast, saying di culture no dey good, dem no dey friendly or connected.
Since Southgate take over, dem focus on team unity. England don improve penalty shootout record too. Before 2018, dem only win one shootout for major tournament – against Spain for Euro ’96. Dem lose six of first seven. But since 2018, dem don beat Colombia, Switzerland (Euro 2024), and win three of last four shootouts overall. Dem still lose to Italy for Euro 2020 final shootout.
Some say England don get easier routes for tournaments. For 2018, dem beat Colombia (16th) and Sweden (24th). For Euro 2020, dem beat Germany (15th), Ukraine (24th), Denmark (16th). For 2022, dem beat Senegal (18th) before losing to France. For Euro 2024, dem beat Slovakia (45th), Switzerland (19th), Netherlands (7th). But di average ranking difference small – less than four places.
Now England face Argentina for semi-final, a huge test. But dem don show dem fit handle tough situations. Even if dem no win, another semi-final show dem dey head right direction. Dem still dey wait for first major trophy since 1966, but dem feel closer now than ten years ago.
