To most people, the 92nd own goal from England’s Laura Basset that handed Japan a 2-1 victory in the Women’s World Cup semifinal was truly devastating. For us English people, it was to be expected. It was awful, but awful things happen to us in the sport we love. We don’t know why, but we’re at peace with it.
Here’s how we got to this point despair:
1. 1990 World Cup
England’s penalty shootout loss in the 1990 World Cup semifinal to eventual champions Germany led to one of the most enduring images in English soccer history.
2. 1996 European Championship
England actually got to the Euro 1996 semifinal — which was hosted by England — because they had beaten Spain in a penalty shootout a round earlier. But the joy was short-lived after England’s Gareth Southgate missed the pivotal penalty and handed another victory to Germany.
3. 1998 World Cup
It goes like this: David Beckham gets sent off during the game for a needless lash-out on Argentina’s Diego Simeone, and as a result isn’t on the field to take the key penalty (which David Batty subsequently missed) in England’s shootout loss to Argentina.
4. 2000 European Championship
A last-minute penalty from Ionel Ganea led to a 3-2 loss and sent Romania into the knockout stage of the competition at England’s expense.
5. 2004 European Championship
Portugal’s showboating goalkeeper — ITS GOALKEEPER! — scored the final goal to send England out of the competition in the quarterfinals.
6. 2006 World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo dives to get the referee to send off Wayne Rooney during the game, then scores the winning penalty to send Portugal into the semifinals.
7. 2012 European Championship
Italy basically just dominated this penalty shootout, winning 4-2 to dump England out yet again in the quarterfinals.
8. 2015 Women’s World Cup
And now, we can add this to the list.
God save the queen.