How many times have England won the Euros?

For decades, optimistic English supporters have staunchly believed that football, when international tournament comes around, is coming home.

The phrase wasn’t popularised until the mid-90s, with England, back then, merely enduring “30 years of hurt”. That pain has since perpetuated, and the hope has so often killed.

There have been sombre days and bleak eras, but the Three Lions, for the most part, have been blessed with a squad capable of winning – let alone competing for – the sport’s most lucrative honours. However, an absence of silverware means the heroes of ’66 continue to be venerated as the sole providers of English success on the grandest stage.

England‘s maiden entry into the European Championships arrived two years after Sir Bobby Moore held the Jules Rimet aloft, and false dawns have followed ever since.

Here’s a rundown of England’s Euros history.

Just in case you hadn’t gauged the answer already, we’ll clarify: No.

England have come despairingly close to becoming European champions, but they squandered their best chance so far on home soil at the delayed Euro 2020 – which took place the following year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Three Lions played the majority of their matches at Wembley, beat the old enemy on the way, and took a 1-0 lead over Italy in the final before losing on penalties.

Penalty heartbreak denied England amid the nostalgic euphoria of Euro 96, succumbing to Germany from 12 yards in the semi-finals.

They also finished third in 1968, although just four teams were competing. Sir Alf Ramsey’s world champions lost to Yugoslavia before beating the Soviet Union in the third-place play-off.

England’s maiden Euros berth arrived eight years after the very first iteration of the tournament in 1960. Sir Alf’s World Cup holders were one of four teams that competed at the 1968 European Championship, but they failed to add the European crown to their haul as they were beaten in the semi-finals by Yugoslavia.

Goals from Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst meant they did at least finish third at the Soviet Union’s expense.

The tournament has evolved drastically from its primitive but pure formative days, with the eventual champions in 1968, Italy, progressing into the final via a coin-toss….