England were a very good team in 2002 and 2004

In 2002 we were the second best side in the tournament and lost to the winners. If we had won that QF we would have played Turkey in the semis and then the worst side to ever reach a WC Final (a side we beat 5-1 in qualifying).

In 2004 - our best side in the last 15 years - we were ridiculously unlucky against a very good, and hosting, Portugal.

Yes, since 2006 - when a good squad was curiously excoriated despite getting to the quarter-finals again - it has genuinely gone downhill and the performance levels have dropped off.

It just seems easy shorthand for people to say we have been s**t since 1996 but that simply isn't true. People have very short memories.

Posted By: norway, Feb 7, 08:38:41