Golden Generation (English football)

The players of the England national football team in the 2000s have been referred to as a golden generation. Despite the talent of its players and their success at club level, the Golden Generation has been known as underachievers, being eliminated at the quarter-finals in three major tournaments and failing to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008.

The term "Golden Generation" was coined in 2001 by The Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier, and criticised as a burden by players such as Frank Lampard. Reasons offered by pundits and players for the failure of the team have included arrogance, tactical inflexibility, the incapability of Lampard and Steven Gerrard to perform together in midfield, and the lack of an assertive manager.

History

On 1 September 2001, England won 5–1 away to Germany in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The unexpected victory eventually saw England qualify automatically at the expense of the Germans, though England were eliminated in the quarter-finals and Germany reached the final, both losing to Brazil. Following the game, the Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier referred to the team as a golden generation, and the game has been referred to as the start of the generation.

England were eliminated from the 2006 FIFA World Cup by Portugal, in what Reuters referred to as a clash between two golden generations. After the elimination, The Guardian columnist Paul Wilson blamed the defeat on what he perceived to be arrogance from the players. Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson blamed the players' poor performance rather than the Portuguese quality, which Wilson also considered arrogant.