Fifty-eight years of hurt never stopped them dreaming. England have reached UEFA Euro 2024 after doing the double over Italy, including a decisive 3-1 win at Wembley Stadium, where the Azzurri beat them on penalties to win Euro 2020.
That run to the final built upon a semifinal appearance at the 2018 World Cup, where little was expected of Gareth Southgate's side.
The same cannot be said now and, after their 2022 World Cup campaign was ended by finalists France at the quarterfinal stage, England will be backed to make serious inroads when next summer's tournament gets underway in Germany.
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Southgate now boasts an enviable array of young talent with their best years ahead of them. Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka are among those who should have long and successful international careers, while the country's all-time leading goalscorer Harry Kane is enjoying a new lease of life at Bayern Munich.
The squad is far from flawless, with questionable depth at centre-back and in defensive midfield. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford often invites questions over his big-match temperament, although he has rarely let his country down as a mainstay of the Southgate era.
So, almost six decades on from Bobby Moore triumphantly hoisting the Jules Rimet trophy, are England's men poised to deliver a success that a nation has long desired?
England odds to win Euro 2024
Kane was left devastated when he blazed his second penalty of the match over and England lost 2-1 to France at the Qatar World Cup.
Didier Deschamps' side are second-favourites, with England considered the favourites for Euro 2024 after their win over Italy.
Odds accurate on October 19 2023.
| England | France | Germany | Spain | Portugal | Netherlands, Belgium Italy | Croatia, Denmark | Austria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnSports (UK) | 4/1 | 9/2 | 13/2 | 7/1 | 8/1 | 16/1 | 25/1 | 50/1 |
Hosts Germany remain a short price despite dismissing head coach Hansi Flick on the back of a 4-1 friendly defeat to Japan. Former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has since succeeded Flick.
Spain overcame losing in Scotland in March to comfortably qualify, and the three-time champions are fourth favourites ahead of Iberian neighbours Portugal.
If you're feeling optimistic about England's chances and believe the Three Lions will only go from strength to strength, you can get a price of 25/1, through bet365 via BetOnSports, for them to win Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.
Back-to-back tournament wins are rare but something that the defining sides of their eras can pull off.
France followed success on home turf at the 1998 World Cup with Euro 2000 glory, while Spain's Euro 2008 win set off a golden run as they also lifted the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Lionel Messi's defining triumph in Qatar came on the back of Argentina ending his long wait for a major international honour at the 2021 Copa America.
