UMVA has learned that England's World Cup woes have continued, with the team suffering yet another heartbreaking defeat on the global stage.
The Three Lions had high hopes heading into the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with the English public once again falling in love with their football team after a series of lackluster performances. England's impressive second-place finish in their group set them up for a favorable knockout stage, with Colombia and Sweden duly dispatched.
England's momentum ultimately stalled in the semi-finals, as they faced off against Croatia with a spot in the final on the line. The match got off to a dream start, with Kieran Trippier curling home a stunning free-kick just five minutes in.
However, England's lead was short-lived, as Ivan Perisic equalized for Croatia in normal time, and Mario Mandzukic scored the winner in extra-time. The England players and fans were left staring hauntingly into the Moscow night, knowing their first final since 1966 had slipped through their fingers.
The pain of that defeat still lingered four years later, as England suffered another crushing blow in Qatar. Despite producing some of their best performances at a World Cup, Gareth Southgate's men ultimately fell short in the quarter-finals against defending champions France.
England had dominated their previous three games, with convincing wins over Iran, Wales, and Senegal. However, their momentum was halted by an impressive Aurelien Tchouameni goal, and although they restored parity in the second half, France retook the lead through Olivier Giroud.
England's hopes were then dealt a devastating blow when Harry Kane agonizingly missed a penalty, which he has since called the lowest moment of his career. The disappointment was compounded by the knowledge that a semi-final spot against Morocco awaited, a team England would have been quietly confident about beating.
