There is nothing more quintessentially English than high expectations ahead of a major football tournament. Except, perhaps, the ability to deliver new variations of failure at every turn.
Not since their semi-final appearance at the 1990 World Cup in Italy have England really punched above their expected weight. They followed that with a winless group exit at Euro '92 and qualification misery for USA ’94 and a new trend was set. The ‘Golden Generation’ were perennial quarter-finalists but always found penalties, red cards or broken metatarsals – or all three – in their path.
No amount of St George’s banners, car flags or painted faces has been enough to will the team on to success.