Summary
The article discusses England's performance in World Cup qualifiers over the years, highlighting their success in qualifying but lack of memorable matches. Despite their strong record, England often experiences disappointment in major tournaments after qualifying comfortably. Memorable moments, such as David Beckham's free-kick against Greece, are rare in these otherwise routine matches.
Key Facts
- England has only lost four World Cup qualifiers in the last 30 years.
- They have been unbeaten in these matches since 2009.
- Since Euro 2004, England has played 108 qualifiers, winning 84 and losing 6.
- England has scored 292 goals and conceded 51 in qualifiers during this period.
- A notable match includes David Beckham's last-minute free-kick in 2001 against Greece.
- England's performance in qualifiers is strong, but they struggle to win major tournaments like the World Cup.
- A significant loss was the Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia where England lost 3-2.
- The number of teams qualifying for the World Cup increased to 32 in 1998 and further to 45, affecting the competitive balance.
