wpdavid
Well-known member
I can't really blame you for feigning disinterest in the euros. Our track record is so horrible; I think that 2004 and 1996 are the only times we haven't embarrassed ourselves, and 1996 wasn't as great as some will tell you.Oh, well meh, Euros, don't care that much about 96.
I think that in 1990 I was swayed by the 'heroic' failure' line of thought. Obviously deeply disappointed to go out like that, but we'd overachieved by getting that far. Similar to 2018.
Without analysing it too much, 1970 and 1974 were the most painful, and 1988, 2010 & 2016 the most depressing performances. As you said, a lot of the penalty shootouts merge into one, especially once we reach the 21st century. 1998 had a hint of heroic failure after playing much of the match against a good Argentina side with ten men.