As England prepare for their Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland, we can’t help but feel like we’ve lived all of this before. There are eerie similarities between England’s unconvincing progress to the last eight of this year’s tournament and their 1990 World Cup campaign – which, incredibly, ended up becoming one of the most fondly-remembered summers England fans have ever had. But it didn’t feel that way at the time.
Bobby Robson had been under pressure throughout his time as England boss, especially after their awful showing at Euro 1988 that led Robson to offer to resign - an offer the FA rejected. Three very familiar results in what was seen before the tournament as a relatively kind group with just one major hurdle only ramped up the pressure. Why England Might Have (Finally) Come Good Against Slovakia Bobby Robson's England faced same challenges and criticisms as Gareth Southgate's Three Lions Just like this year, England topped that group, but in thoroughly unconvincing fashion.
At Euro 2024, Serbia were beaten 1-0, Denmark fought back to draw 1-1, and Slovenia shared a goalless draw. In 1990, it was the same scorelines in a different order: the Republic of Ireland came back to draw 1-1, the Netherlands held England 0-0, and Egypt were finally seen of 1-0. The newspapers were gunning for Robson.
David Miller wrote in The Times after that Ireland draw: “Having shared an opening match of barely third division international standing, in which Englan.
