How many finals have England been in?

Harry KaneHow many finals have England been in? at the Euro 2020 final in Wembley
Harry Kane (Image credit: PA Images)

England take on the Netherlands for a place in the Euro 2024 final on Wednesday night with the winners set to face Spain for the title of European champions on Sunday evening. 

Should England be successful against the Netherlands it would mean a second consecutive appearance in the Euros final, following their run to the Wembley showpiece at Euro 2020. 

But how many finals have England been in? FourFourTwo takes a look below.

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How many finals have England been in?

In the aforementioned final against the Azzurri, Gareth Southgate's men would come up short on that occasion. Italy triumphed on penalty shootouts as Three Lions fans' wait for a major trophy continued. 

That Euro 2020 final was just was the first time they had made it that far in the European Championship and it was the first time they had made it to the final of a major tournament since winning the 1966 World Cup on home turf. 

Those two finals remain the only two times England have made it through to the last stage of a tournament. There have, however, been a few near misses. 

England have lost two semi-finals at the World Cup, the first of which came in 1990 when West Germany handed the Three Lions their first-ever penalty shootout defeat in Turin. 

England reached the last four of the 1990 World Cup

England reached the last four of the 1990 World Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)

Southgate led England to the last-four in the 2018 World Cup, when an early Kieran Trippier goal against Croatia gave fans the most dangerous of things - hope. An extra-time defeat ensued. 

England's sole semi-final defeat in the Euros came in 1996, when - stop us if you've heard this one before - Germany defeated Terry Venables' side at Wembley Stadium.

The England women's team have reached two finals - which were the last two major tournaments they have played in. The Lionesses memorably won Euro 2022 by beating Germany at Wembley, but lost the 2023 World Cup final to Spain. 

They also have lost twice in the Euros semi-finals - 1995 and 2017 - and twice in the World Cup (2015 and 2019).

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Conor Pope
Online Editor

Conor Pope is the former Online Editor of FourFourTwo, overseeing all digital content. He plays football regularly, and has a large, discerning and ever-growing collection of football shirts from around the world.

He supports Blackburn Rovers and holds a season ticket with south London non-league side Dulwich Hamlet. His main football passions include Tugay, the San Siro and only using a winter ball when it snows.