The English Football League is the oldest league system dating way back to 1888. However, quite incredibly, some teams still competing today were founded as early as the 1860s and competed in the FA Cup since 1871. The football pyramid in England boasts a rich heritage and tradition and has gone from strength to strength with each passing decades over the last 140 years.
If you are keen to explore some of the oldest clubs when placing match wagers in 2025, there are countless teams to check out. This article will run through some of the teams who were founded first in England so that you can keep an eye out for these storied sides when making your bets.
Online betting sites certainly think he is in with a chance of accomplishing the task. Websites allowing one to bet on sports with Bitcoin currently make England an 11/2 second-favorite to leave MetLife Stadium with the famous gold trophy in tow on July 19th. Only Spain is considered more likely, the team that famously beat England in the most recent of those two Euro finals in Berlin in 2024. But if they are to claim their first major trophy since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966, England will have to overcome decades of heartbreak.
So, across the last 60 years, what are the most painful moments England fans have had to endure at the World Cup? Let’s take a look… Or, if you’re English, look away now.
Croatia Ends England's March to the Final
England headed into the 2018 World Cup in Russia with the lowest of expectations. The unpopular Southgate was heading into his first major tournament as manager, and he was doing so without superstars such as Wayne Rooney, with the new boss opting to turn toward younger talent. Striker Harry Kane was captain and talisman, and with support from Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli, the Three Lions immediately started proving the doubters wrong.
Led by a golden boot-winning six goals from the skipper, the Three Lions powered their way to a first semi-final appearance since 1990. They even managed to win a penalty shootout along the way, with Jordan Pickford’s heroics against Colombia in the second round securing England’s first-ever shootout win on the global stage.
After a 2-0 victory against Sweden in the quarterfinals, Southgate’s men were narrow favorites to dispatch Croatia’s golden generation and secure a first final appearance since 1966. Unfortunately, Zlatko Dalić’s side had other ideas.
England took the lead after just five minutes through Kieran Trippier’s delicious free kick, and they would proceed to create opportunity after opportunity in a dominant first half. However, Croatia would make the Three Lions rue their missed chances. In the second half, Luka Modrić took over in midfield, dominating the game with his vast array of passing ability, and in the 68th minute, his side secured a deserved equalizer through Ivan Perišić’s poacher’s finish.
Then, deep into extra time, striker Mario Mandžukić would lash past Pickford to secure the Vatreni a 2-1 win and maiden final appearance. England, meanwhile, were left to lick their wounds, knowing they couldn’t get any closer without actually reaching the final. It’s the hope that kills you.
Frank Lampard's Ghost Goal
Back in 2010, England’s golden generation was still in full force. Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and John Terry; quality all over the pitch. But unfortunately, that legion of superstars would never gel with Three Lions on their chest, and never was that more evident than in South Africa.
Fabio Capello’s side stumbled its way through the group stages, with a nervy 1-0 victory against Slovenia in their third and final group stage game enough to secure progression to the knockout round as runners-up to the USA. The result for not topping arguably the easiest group in the entire tournament? A second round clash with archrivals Germany.
Die Mannschaft had rebuilt under Joachim Low, with young stars such as Mesut Özil, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, and Sami Khedira not yet household names but clearly possessing immense talent. And their fresh legs would prove to be England’s undoing, but not before one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history.
England had just netted through defender Matthew Upson, reducing their arrears to 2-1 after early goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. Then, seconds later, England should have equalized when Lampard’s spectacular dipping volley rattled off the crossbar, bounced over the goal line before hitting the crossbar again and falling into keeper Neuer’s arms. The Uruguayan referee and his assistants inexplicably missed the goal, with instant replays showing just how hard-done-by England were.
Throughout the second half, England pushed for an equalizer, but the golden generation’s aging legs were simply unable to keep up with the younger Germans. A second-half brace from Muller, both scored on the breakaway, secured a 4-1 German win, and England were crushed. But despite the drubbing, supporters couldn’t help but wonder what might have been had Lampard’s clear goal been spotted and the score leveled up at 2-2. We will never know.