England look to end knockout woe

The 'Three Lions' go into the game having failed to win a World Cup knockout game in 12 years, having last done so way back in 2006, when a David Beckham free-kick secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Stuttgart. that set up a quarter-final clash against Portugal, where as you may recall Wayne Rooney was sent off and England lost on penalties.

England failed to get out of the group stage in Brazil in 2014, somehow contriving to finish bottom of a group containing Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica, with their fate sealed after just two games.

2010 had been a slightly more successful tournament, albeit still without a knockout win. Paired with the USA, Slovenia and Algeria in Group C, England managed only to claim second place, setting up a last 16 tie with old enemy Germany in Bloemfontein.

Everyone knows what happened next as Germany swept england aside 4-1, though it remains to be seen what would have happened if Frank Lampard's now infamous effort which crossed the line had been allowed to stand.

Overall, England have won just two knockout games since their run to the semi-finals at Italia '90, though if there is one glimmer of hope, it may come from the fact that they have only bettered their current tally of eight World Cup goals on one occasion: 1966.