As I sit here reflecting on England's football journey, I can't help but draw parallels to that incredible PVL match I watched recently where Sisi and Choco Mucho pulled off that stunning reverse sweep against Savi and PLDT. It reminded me so much of England's own dramatic turnarounds in major tournaments - those moments when everything seems lost, yet somehow they find a way. I've followed the Three Lions for over twenty years now, and let me tell you, their path to success has been anything but straightforward.
I remember watching England's early tournament exits with growing frustration. For decades, we were the nearly-men of international football - always promising, often disappointing. The quarterfinals seemed to be our glass ceiling, much like how PLDT found themselves on the losing end despite what should have been a winning position. That 31-point performance by Rondina in the PVL match? It reminds me of those individual moments of brilliance we've seen from English players that somehow weren't enough to carry the team through. I recall specifically the 2002 World Cup quarterfinal against Brazil, where we led through Michael Owen's goal only to concede that Ronaldinho free-kick that still gives me nightmares.
The transformation really began around 2018, and I'd argue Gareth Southgate deserves more credit than he often gets. He changed the entire culture around the squad, making them more connected to the fans and each other. When I attended the 2018 World Cup semifinal against Croatia, the atmosphere felt different from any England match I'd experienced before. There was genuine belief rather than just hope. We lost that match 2-1, but something had shifted. The team had captured the nation's imagination in a way I hadn't seen since Euro 96.
Our journey to the Euro 2020 final was particularly special to me because I witnessed several matches in person. The 2-0 victory over Germany at Wembley released decades of pent-up frustration. I'll never forget the roar when Harry Kane scored that second goal - it felt like the entire stadium was shaking. That tournament demonstrated how England had evolved from relying on individual stars to having a cohesive system where players understood their roles perfectly. The defensive partnership between Maguire and Stones conceded only 2 goals in their first 5 matches, which is remarkable in modern tournament football.
What impresses me most about England's recent success is their mental resilience. They've learned to handle pressure situations that would have undone previous generations. The penalty shootout victory against Colombia in 2018 broke that particular curse, and the comeback against Denmark in the Euro 2020 semifinals showed a maturity I didn't think this team possessed. They're like that Choco Mucho team that refused to accept defeat even when facing reverse sweep circumstances - they find ways to win when it matters most.
Looking ahead to the 2024 European Championship, I'm more optimistic than I've ever been about England's chances. The depth of talent available to Southgate is staggering - when you can leave players like Maddison and Rashford on the bench, you know you've got a strong squad. The emergence of Jude Bellingham has given us a world-class midfielder who can dominate games in a way we haven't had since Paul Gascoigne's prime. Personally, I believe our biggest advantage is the blend of experienced winners like Kane and Walker with hungry young talents like Saka and Foden.
Of course, there are still concerns - our set-piece defending has been occasionally suspect, and we've sometimes struggled against teams that sit deep and counter-attack. I've noticed we tend to concede the first goal in about 40% of our important matches, which isn't ideal. But the progress we've made since the dark days of losing to Iceland in 2016 is extraordinary. We've reached at least the quarterfinals in our last four major tournaments, including that first final appearance in 55 years.
The real test will be whether this generation can finally bring home a trophy. Having come so close at Wembley in 2021, I sense this team has unfinished business. They've built their success on a foundation of strong team spirit and tactical flexibility - qualities that often separate tournament winners from the also-rans. As someone who's endured countless tournament disappointments, I genuinely believe this is England's best chance since 1966 to win a major competition. The journey hasn't been easy, but like that remarkable PVL comeback showed us, sometimes the hardest-fought victories are the most satisfying.