Ten years ago, the suggestion that England could become serial contenders in major tournaments would have sounded laughable.

After all, the Three Lions had just been knocked out in the last 16 at Euro 2016 by Iceland.

That loss followed a dismal World Cup in Brazil, where England finished at the bottom of their group and secured only one point from a 0-0 draw against Costa Rica.

Spearheaded by the brilliance of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, England now firmly belong in the conversation as potential champions.

They occupy this position not just this year, but every year.

Since Euro 2016, England have reached at least the semi-finals in four out of five tournaments. We are living in unprecedented times.

Only Argentina and France share this record, as they have World Cup and Copa America titles to show for their efforts.

After England’s nail-biting 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway on Saturday, Argentina—and a first meeting with Lionel Messi—await in the final four.

Even if England fall short once again, this team now competes rather than merely enjoying a brief dalliance with success.

A remarkable era for England’s football teams

The song “Three Lions,” written by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, and the Lightning Seeds for Euro ’96, has long faced ridicule outside of England for its supposed arrogance.

Yet, it captured the reality of supporting this team. It reflected the past, the present, and the 20 years of frustration that followed.

“England’s gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away”—it became a tale of hope over lived experience.

History barely supports the idea that England fans expected success.

After England reached the semi-finals of Euro ’68 and lost 1-0 to Yugoslavia, they did not reach the last four of another tournament until the 1990 World Cup. They waited 22 years, missing out on two World Cups and three European Championships during that span.

After Euro ’96, England waited another 22 years to reach a semi-final. This period remained littered with tournament exits that only reinforced the sentiment within “Three Lions.”

Consider David Beckham’s red card against Argentina in the last 16 of France 98, or Wayne Rooney’s dismissal against Portugal in the 2006 quarter-finals. England lost both matches.

Or observe David Seaman grasping at thin air as Ronaldinho’s free-kick found the net in the 2002 quarter-final loss to Brazil.

England even failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

In the 68 years before Russia 2018, England only reached one final and three semi-finals—with two of those as tournament hosts.

England’s ‘golden generation’ could not advance beyond the quarter-finals.

Now everything has changed. They are currently enjoying a period of excellence no previous England team has approached.

A teenaged England fan today knows nothing other than deep runs into tournaments.

They have reached two finals and two semi-finals in the space of eight years.

Gareth Southgate led England to successive Euros finals, losing to Italy on penalties in 2021 and 2-1 to Spain in 2024.

Thomas Tuchel now carries the responsibility of taking the next step.

It is a remarkable era for England’s football teams, with the Lionesses winning back-to-back European Championships and finishing as runners-up at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

With a home men’s Euros approaching in two years, nobody would bet against this success continuing.

England’s production line keeps on running

This transformation is incredible, but it did not happen by accident.

In 2013, shortly after becoming chairman of the Football Association, Greg Dyke fiercely criticized the structure of English football.

“The problem is serious, very serious,” Dyke said regarding an “alarming” lack of homegrown talent.

Dyke set the England team two targets: reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and win the 2022 World Cup.

Many scoffed at the mere suggestion of such success, yet he was not far off the mark.

Dyke understood that two key building blocks were already in place.

In 2011, EFL clubs voted to approve the £340m Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). It funded an overhaul of elite academies and restructured the entire system.

Then came St George’s Park.

It took the Football Association 11 years to build it after purchasing the land in 2001.

Plans were approved, mothballed, and finally resurrected.

In 2012, it finally opened as the destination for coaching and development of the England team at all levels.

The EPPP was no quick fix; it represented a long-term investment in coaching and facilities.

Today, academy players utilize state-of-the-art training centers equipped with the best pitches, coaches, and backup staff.

They then join the England development teams at similarly high-quality training centers.

The pathway is not perfect. More than 12,000 boys currently exist within the academy system, and 91% will never play a professional game.

However, 15 years later, it has created a production line of talent that helps make England the competitive team they are today.

Bellingham—who only recently turned 23—Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Elliot Anderson stand out as star names within the squad, all products of the EPPP.

The depth of options is such that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden can be left out of the squad—three players who were part of the team that reached the Euros final just two years ago.

Tuchel can choose not to select them and still guide England to the final four of a World Cup.

The production line continues to run, with Alex Scott, Josh King, Ethan Nwaneri, and Rio Ngumoha included in the pre-tournament training squad.

Arsenal’s 16-year-old Max Dowman broke records for his age in the Premier League and the Champions League and is destined to make the step up.

One thing now remains – a trophy

“Three Lions” seems to have been cast aside at this tournament.

Reverend & The Makers’ “Silence Is Talking” has been reborn as the terrace anthem, aided by the trumpeter in the England band playing the familiar riff from War’s 1975 song “Low Rider.”

The added lyrics, sung on repeat, nod to past and present: “Football’s coming home again, with Thomas Tuchel.”

While “Three Lions” plays inside the stadium at full-time, Oasis’s “Wonderwall” has overtaken it as the anthem uniting players and fans.

The former will always have its place, but the sentiment perhaps no longer feels so relevant.

Maybe this indicates the fans are ready to move on and embrace success rather than fear the failures of the past.

This team feels more resilient and freed from the shackles of disappointment.

Consider England’s 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico.

Reduced to 10 men following the sending off of Jarell Quansah, the old script would have seen England knocked out as brave warriors—probably on penalties.

“Everyone seems to know the score, they’ve seen it all before.”

Not this England team.

It is time to accept that this is where England belong—through ability, not history.

Tuchel now needs to take the next step and beat Argentina to send England to the World Cup final for only the second time.

Then anything could happen in New Jersey on Sunday.

Only one thing now remains for the men’s team.

Semi-finals and finals comprise only part of the story.

Kane needs to hold a trophy aloft to write the final line.