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England’s 60 Years of Hurt: So Close, Yet So Far (2006–2026)

Flick of the Boot

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The final chapter in England’s painful 60-year story takes us from the post-Eriksson wilderness through the Capello years, the chaos of multiple managers, and the Gareth Southgate era that finally delivered two major tournament finals… only for the hurt to continue.

From the “Golden Generation” hangover, repeated quarter-final exits, penalty shootout trauma (again), all the way to the dramatic runs at Euro 2020 and 2024 — England have come closer than ever, yet the trophy still remains painfully out of reach.

Has the curse finally been broken, or will 2026 be just another chapter in the long story of hurt?

This is Part 3 and the conclusion of England’s 60 Years of Hurt.

If you’ve watched Parts 1 & 2, thank you — drop a comment with your biggest “what if” moment in England’s history.

#England #ThreeLions #WorldCup2026 #FootballHistory #FootballDocumentary #60YearsOfHurt #Southgate

20 Comments

@flickofthebootproductions Creator 4 months ago Pinned

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@SomeDayDreamer 4 months ago

this is exactly the reason why youtube is such a great alternative to TV.. This is so indepth and insightful, and professionally presented good stuff.

@emiliwano 2 months ago

2026: “After going 1-0 up against Argentina in the semi-final, Tuchel gave the greatest of all time half an hour to break down his low block.”

@celticwarrior8574 2 months ago

Who's here after England choke?

@ninonakanoquint 2 months ago

Whos here after another heart break by england after losinh 2-1 to argentina

@idiedlasttuesday 4 months ago (edited)

Great series mate, see you again in another 60 years 🫡

@Plejades 4 months ago

26:54 - I really love that quote! Never give up! I really hope England can finally win this year! Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪

@KentaThusen 2 months ago

Adding to the story: England sat back after taking lead in the semifinals of 2026 World Cup and lose 2-1 to Argentina.

@winkles2314 4 months ago

McLaren’s reaction to that Iceland goal is hilarious. Like someone let the air out of a balloon.

@philbraithwaite1316 2 months ago (edited)

Born in 1960 and just too young to take in 1966 so my first World Cup was Mexico 1970. That defeat against W Germany set the tone for the next 50 years at least. It’s been a life of football pain and at 66 I’m running out of time. Fantastic series guys.

@roadrunner5219 2 months ago

The Wembley curse of 1966 goes on...

@matthewbrotman2907 2 months ago

I remember that Iceland game. We had two English commentators on American TV, Ian Darke and Steve McManaman, and they were FURIOUS at how bad England looked.

@emiliwano 4 months ago

Really well done series, excited to see what you got coming

@87Jdavis 4 months ago

Superb series. Thank you. I’m in my late 30’s & my kids only have memories of England getting really far in tournaments, the complete opposite to the experience I had watching them in my youth - the effect Southgate had on the England team was phenomenal. It’s easy to forget just how awful things had gotten. 2008-2016 was really diabolical.

@MarioDifferent-n7w 2 months ago

This was a fantastic documentary. I’m not a fan of the English national team. But as a New Yorker, I root for some perennial losers. And I understand this feeling you have for your team. After a 53 year drought. What I always felt like was a curse. A basketball nightmare I dealt with following my Knicks. 35 years for me personally. Traumatized by awful defeats throughout my childhood. I never believed they would ever win. I watched them with anger and pessimism. Waiting for the worst. It stopped being fun. I felt like it was always going to be one way, and one way only. And it finally happened. I witnessed them win a championship. It changed so much for me personally. It brought back the joy again in sports. Something I lost completely. One day it will end for England fans. No one knows when. But it will. This suffering will end. And you will feel an emotion you never knew of. You will hug a loved one. A friend, maybe even a complete stranger. The tears will be like words. Expressing everything you didn’t even know you had inside. All you can do is watch, wait, root and hope.

@pauladamson8684 4 months ago

Excellent series, thanks for putting this together, very much appreciated.

@hatuletoh 2 months ago

I was in a little pub in Portsmouth watching that England v Iceland match. I was on a business trip, and just walked into the first establishment I foune to there to after a 16 hour day, but I sat down just as the match started and the excitement and energy of the patrons keep me energized and interested. I remember very clearly I'd just had the thought, "I really should get to bed but I think I'll have one more pint and see the end of this thing" when Iceland scored the go ahead goal. And it was like everyone in that place found out simultaneously that their dog and grandma died in the same car accident. I did not order another pint, just paid my tab, wished the people I'd been chatting with a good night, and went back to my hotel. The howls and yells I heard emanating from other pubs and homes on my walk back told me what the final score had been. That was the most depressed I've ever seen sports fans, and I've been to Cleveland and Detroit during football season.