England will be looking to erase the memory of their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy as they battle for glory at Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate’s side lost out in a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium, as Roberto Mancini guided the Azzurri to glory, and the Three Lions’ long wait for a major men’s international title stretched on.
Southgate has built England into a team that regularly reaches the knockout stages of tournaments, with the final heartbreak against Italy coming on the back of a semifinal exit at the 2018 World Cup against Croatia.
Having made the second phase of a tournament once again with a 0-0 draw against Slovenia that saw them top Group C — albeit in a fashion that left many fans frustrated — they will be determined to end their barren run in 2024, with the tournament likely to be Southgate’s final hurrah as England head coach.
Some unconvincing performances at the end of the qualifying phase, and early into the tournament, cast some doubt over England’s credentials as challengers, but they certainly possess the talent in the squad to go one better than they did last time.
MORE: Euro 2024 schedule and results, updated LIVE | Who will win Euro 2024? Latest odds and predictions | How to watch all the Euro 2024 action
Have England won the Euros?
England’s European Championship record makes for uncomfortable reading for their fans with no title win and just one final appearance.
Euro 2020 looked to be their moment to create history, but it was not to be, as the penalties loss to Italy was filed alongside another shootout heartbreak against Germany in the semifinals of Euro 96. On both occasions, England lost out on home soil.
Gareth Southgate still feels the pain of his Euro 96 penalty miss… 😢
Yesterday’s victory brought the England manager some well-deserved redemption… 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WNrXA7VS5U
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) June 30, 2021
England European Championship results
England have only failed to qualify for one European Championship since 1988 after Steve McClaren’s team infamously missed out on a spot at Euro 2008.
| Year | Host | Wins | Draws* | Losses | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded |
| 1968 | Italy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1980 | Italy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 1988 | West Germany | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 1992 | Sweden | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1996 | England | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| 2000 | Belgium/Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 2004 | Portugal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 |
| 2012 | Poland/Ukraine | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| 2016 | France | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | Europe | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| 2024 | Germany | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
*Draws include knockout-stage games decided by penalty shootouts level after 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra time.
How did England qualify for Euro 2024?
England continued their pattern of easing through qualification with an unbeaten run of six wins and two draws from eight qualifiers. Two of those victories came against Italy — a slight exorcising of the Euro 2020 ghost — with the defending champions qualifying in second place from Group C.
They concluded qualifying with tame performances in a win over Malta and draw with North Macedonia, although their place in the finals had already been assured before those games.
England European Championship record
| Year | Host | Stage Reached | Eliminated By |
| 1960 | France | Did not enter | — |
| 1964 | Spain | Did not qualify | — |
| 1968 | Italy | Semifinal | Yugoslavia |
| 1972 | Belgium | Did not qualify | — |
| 1976 | Yugoslavia | Did not qualify | — |
| 1980 | Italy | Group Stage | Belgium/Italy |
| 1984 | France | Did not qualify | — |
| 1988 | West Germany | Group Stage | Soviet Union/Netherlands |
| 1992 | Sweden | Group Stage | Sweden/Denmark |
| 1996 | England | Semifinal | Germany |
| 2000 | Belgium/Netherlands | Group Stage | Portugal/Romania |
| 2004 | Portugal | Quarterfinal | Portugal |
| 2008 | Austria/Switzerland | Did not qualify | — |
| 2012 | Poland/Ukraine | Quarterfinal | Italy |
| 2016 | France | Round of 16 | Iceland |
| 2020 | Europe | Runners-Up | Italy |
