Penalty pain and Wembley joy – A look at England’s past semi-final showdowns

England are one game away from a place in the final of Euro 2024.

Published Jul 8

England take on the Netherlands on Wednesday looking to reach a second successive European Championship final.

It will be the sixth time England have played in the semi-finals of a major tournament, not including the 1968 European Championship when only four teams qualified for the finals.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how England got on in their previous last-four encounters.

England 2 Portugal 1 – 1966 World Cup

England came through against a Portugal side including Eusebio in 1966 (PA)

West Germany 1 England 1 (West Germany won 4-3 on penalties) – 1990 World Cup

Gazza’s tears and the start of their penalty shootout woes were the legacies of England’s biggest game since seeing off the same opponents in the final 24 years earlier. Gary Lineker cancelled out Andreas Brehme’s deflected effort at the Stadio delle Alpi before, in the shootout, Stuart Pearce saw his spot-kick saved and Chris Waddle blazed over.

Germany 1 England 1 (Germany won 6-5 on penalties) – 1996 European Championship

Gareth Southgate's missed penalty led to England being knocked out of Euro 96 (PA) — Gareth Southgate’s missed penalty led to England being knocked out of Euro 96 (PA)

Croatia 2-1 England (after extra time) – 2018 World Cup

England were left disappointed after going out to Croatia after extra time in 2018 (Adam Davy/PA)

England 2 Denmark 1 (after extra time) – 2020 European Championship

Harry Kane, right, lifted England into the Euro 2020 final (Mike Egerton/PA)