Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterEngland take on Argentina for a place in the World Cup final on Wednesday evening with the winners set to take on Spain in New Jersey on Sunday, 19 July.Should the Three Lions be successful, it would be successive major tournaments where they have reached the final, after doing so in Euro 2024 in Germany.But how many finals have England been in over the years? FourFourTwo takes a look below.England have played in three major tournament finalsIn 2024 in Berlin, England came up short, despite Cole Palmer scoring a stunning equaliser, minutes after he came on as a substitute.It was their second defeat in a row in Euros finals, with Italy beating them on penalties in 2021 in the delayed Euro 2020. Luke Shaw slammed Gareth Southgate's men in front inside two minutes, but they failed to hold on and were ultimately beaten in the shootout under the Wembley arch. You may like When is the next England football match? Three Lions vs Argentina in the World Cup 2026 semi-final promises to be a huge occasion England's route to the World Cup final When can England play Lionel Messi and Argentina at the World Cup? These were two of the three finals Englands men have ever been in.The other was, of course, the 1966 World Cup final, again at Wembley (albeit the old one), where they beat West Germany 4-2 in extra-time thanks to a hat-trick by Geoff Hurst.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Should they beat Argentina, they will be entering somewhat uncharted waters with just their second-ever World Cup final.If they fail to reach the promised land, it will be added to a long list of near misses.The most recent came in 2018, when Southgate and his waistcoat led England to the semi-final in Russia, with Kieran Tripper scoring an almost unbelievable free-kick in the fifth minute. What to read next Have England ever beaten the World Cup hosts? What happens if England finish second in their group? When are England next playing? Before that, however, England had not been in a semi-final of a Euros or World Cup in 22 years, with their previous appearance coming in 1996. This was in the only European Championships England has ever held exclusivel, and they suffered a penalty shootout defeat against Germany at Wembley.They had only had to wait six years since their last semi-final, which ended the same way as in 1996; a penalty shootout defeat to West Germany at Italia '90 in Turin.This was just Englands second-ever appearance at a major tournament semi-final, with the first coming in 1966, and we all know how that one ended.The England women's team have reached five finals - three of which were the last three major tournaments they have played in.The Lionesses memorably won Euro 2022 by beating Germany at Wembley, but lost the 2023 World Cup final to Spain, before avenging that defeat in 2025 with a penalty shootout win against Spain in Switzerland.They also have lost twice in the Euros semi-finals - 1995 and 2017 - and twice in the World Cup (2015 and 2019). They have reached the semi-finals or better in their last six major tournaments.TOPICSKieran TrippierLuke ShawGeoff HurstEnglandArgentinaWorld CupWorld Cup 1990World Cup 1966Euro 2024Euro 2020Euro 96Ewan GenneryFreelance writerEwan is a freelance writer and social media manager who has worked for The Athletic, GOAL, 90min and OneFootball. From Gelsenkirchen to Riyadh, he has covered some of the biggest games in football in his three years in the industry.
