ENJOY THESE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES FOR ENGLAND.

The idea that England might consistently compete in important tournaments would have seemed absurd ten years ago.

After all, Iceland had just eliminated the Three Lions in the Euro 2016 round of sixteen.

That followed a miserable World Cup in Brazil, where England finished last in their group and earned their lone point in the competition with a 0-0 draw against Costa Rica.

With Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane at the forefront, England is now a serious contender for the title.

Every year, not just this one.

England has advanced to at least the semi-finals in four of the five competitions since Euro 2016. The times we live in are unprecedented.

Only Argentina and France, who have won the World Cup and Copa America, have broken this record.

Argentina and a first encounter with Lionel Messi await in the final four following England's thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway on Saturday.

This is a team designed to compete, not to enjoy a fleeting moment of success, even if England loses again.

    

A remarkable era for England's football teams

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored 11 of England's 13 goals at the World Cup

Outside of England, the song "Three Lions," which was composed by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, and the Lightning Seeds for Euro '96, has long been mocked for its alleged conceit.

However, it perfectly captured the essence of rooting for this England team. Not only during that period, but also in the two decades that followed."England is going to blow it away and throw it away," is a story that prioritizes optimism over reality.

History hardly supports the notion that England supporters anticipated success.

It wasn't until the 1990 World Cup that England advanced to the last four of another competition after losing 1-0 to Yugoslavia in the semi-finals of Euro '68. a 22-year wait, during which they missed three European Championships and two World Cups.

England then had to wait a further 22 years to go to a semi-final with Euro '96. a time when tournament withdrawals were common, which further strengthened the feeling among the Three Lions.

Consider the red cards Wayne Rooney received against Portugal in the 2006 quarterfinals or David Beckham received against Argentina in the round of 16 at France 98. Both games were lost by England.

In the 2002 quarterfinal loss to Brazil, David Seaman was clutching at nothing when Ronaldinho's free kick ended up in the back of the net.

despite the inability to attend Euro 2008.

England have only made it to one final and three semifinals in the 68 years prior to Russia 2018. Two of those served as hosts.

The "golden generation" of England was unable to get past the quarterfinals.

Everything is different now. No England team has ever achieved such a prolonged period of excellence.

Today's adolescent England supporters are essentially ignorant of anything but deep runs into competitions.

In eight years, there have been two finals and two semifinals.

Gareth Southgate led England to two consecutive European Championship finals, losing 2-1 to Spain in 2024 and Italy on penalties in 2021.

The next step is now to be taken by Thomas Tuchel.

With the Lionesses finishing second in the 2023 Women's World Cup and winning consecutive European Championships, this is an incredible time for England's football teams.

You wouldn't bet on it continuing with a home men's Euros in two years.

The production line in England continues to operate.

It's not an accident, but the transition is amazing.

Greg Dyke harshly criticized the English football system in 2013, not long after he became chairman of the Football Association.Regarding the "alarming" absence of domestic talent, Dyke stated, "The problem is serious, very serious."

Dyke gave the England squad two goals: to win the World Cup in 2022 and go to the Euro 2020 semifinals.

Outside of such accomplishment, many laughed at the idea, although he wasn't too far off.

Dyke was aware that two essential components had already been established.

EFL clubs approved the £340 million Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) in 2011. It reorganized the system and provided funding for an upgrade of elite academies.

St George's Park followed.

After buying the site in 2001, the Football Association needed eleven years to construct it.

Plans were approved, put on hold, and then revived.

Eventually, in 2012, it became the location for all levels of coaching and development for the England squad.

The EPPP was a long-term investment in facilities and coaching, not a short-term solution.

Modern training facilities with the greatest pitches, coaches, and backup personnel are used by academy athletes nowadays.

After that, players join the England development teams at a training facility of comparable caliber.

The route is not flawless. Ninety-one percent of the more than 12,000 boys in the academy system will never play professionally.

But after 15 years, it has produced a talent pipeline that has contributed to England's current competitiveness.

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Elliot Anderson, and Bellingham, who just turned 23, are all well-known members of the team who attended EPPP.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden—three players who were on the team that advanced to the European Championship final just two years ago—can be left off the roster due to the abundance of choices.

Even if Tuchel decides not to select them, England can still go to the World Cup final four.

With Rio Ngumoha, Josh King, Alex Scott, and Ethan Nwaneri on the pre-tournament training team, the manufacturing line continues to run.

Max Dowman, 16, of Arsenal, is set to advance after breaking age-related records in both the Champions League and the Premier League.

There is only one thing left: a trophy.

Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson came through the academies of Birmingham and Newcastle

It appears that three Lions were all but eliminated from this competition.

With the help of the trumpeter in the England band performing the well-known riff from War's 1975 song Low Rider, Silence gets Talking by Reverend & The Makers gets revived as the terrace anthem.

Sung repeatedly, the new lyrics pay homage to both the past and the present: "Football's coming home again, with Thomas Tuchel."

Wonderwall by Oasis has surpassed Three Lions as the anthem to bring players and supporters together, even though the song is still played inside the stadium during full time.

Though if the feeling is no longer as pertinent, the former will always have a place.

Perhaps this shows that instead of being afraid of past failures, the supporters are prepared to move on and welcome victory.

This team feels liberated from the bonds of disappointment and more resilient.

Consider England's 3-2 victory over Mexico, the co-hosts.

The earlier script would have seen England eliminated as valiant warriors, down to ten men when Jarell Quansah was sent off. On penalties, most likely.Everyone appears to be aware of the outcome because they have all witnessed it before."

Not this team from England.

It's time to acknowledge that England belongs here. via aptitude rather than history.

In order to advance England to the World Cup final for just the second time, Tuchel must now defeat Argentina.

Then on Sunday, anything may occur in New Jersey.

For the men's team, one thing is left.

Finals and semi-finals are just one aspect of the tale.

To write the last line, Kane must raise a trophy.