In Euro 2016, England had a quarter-final to look forward to. They were set to face France in Paris. Until they weren’t. The last-16 tie against Iceland turned into one of the most chastening days in the history of the national team.
It was also a turning point; in several ways, really. Roy Hodgson departed, his decision not to scout Iceland in person and to instead accompany his assistant, Ray Lewington, on a boat trip on the Seine destined for infamy. Since then, however, England are five out of five. When Thomas Tuchel takes his team to Miami, it will be a fifth successive quarter-final. No other country has reached the last eight of each of the last three World Cups and two European Championships.
