Everyone seems to know the score, they’ve seen it all before…
Or have we? Now England have got through the group stage, it’s time for the nation to start getting its hopes up way too early – yes, there are still a few hurdles to overcome before the Euro 2024 final, but no matter – and think about (whisper it) football possibly, maybe coming home.
We have David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and The Lightning Seeds’ Ian Broudie to thank for that central refrain now synonymous with England and football; a song full of unashamed nostalgia for the days of the World Cup victory (1966, you might have heard of it), perfectly capturing the mix of “oh-so-nears” pessimism since and the cautious hope that comes with being an England fan.
Released for Euro ’96, back when it was only a mere 30 years of hurt, Three Lions is still the ultimate anthem for English football.
At Euro 2020, the song was everywhere as the men’s team reached its first international tournament final since 1966 – but ended the run with the all-too-familiar agony of defeat by penalties to Italy. In 2022, England were finally crowned champions of Europe after the Lionesses beat Germany in the final – and did indeed bring football home.
So… can it stay here? Can Gareth Southgate’s men make it a double?
From a homage to former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson to a celebration of baked goods, here are a few official and unofficial songs to add to your Euro 2024 playlist. After Three Lions, of course. And Three Lions ’98, because no one likes change.
We still believe…
This Time (We’ll Get It Right)
After failing to qualify for the World Cup in 1974 and 1978, 1982 was not only a big year for football but a big year for England in the charts. Frontman Kevin Keegan was no stranger to the Top 40, having released the single Head Over Heels In Love a few years earlier, and he led the squad in their promise to “get it right… this time”. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. Keegan, for his part, missed a sitter (he didn’t get it right) against the hosts and England failed to progress beyond the second group stage, despite remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament in Spain. The song charted at number two though, so every cloud.
We’ve Got The Whole World At Our Feet
“There’s not a single team that we can’t beat,” sang the England squad ahead of Mexico 1986. Unfortunately, they hadn’t reckoned with Maradona and his Hand of God. To add insult to injury, chart success also eluded them, with We’ve Got The Whole World At Our Feet only reaching number 66 (as if they needed another reminder). However, Gary Lineker did win the tournament’s Golden Boot for top scorer.
All The Way
For the Euros in West Germany in 1988, Stock, Aitken and Waterman took charge of the music, which led to this upbeat number that epitomised the pop sound of the time. Sadly, it only reached number 64 in the charts – mirroring England’s success in the tournament (they went out early after failing to win any of their games in the group stage).
World In Motion
England’s second-finest track comes from New Order, includes a magnificent rap from John Barnes and mercifully has minimal input from the rest of the squad. Released for Italia 90, this was the World Cup of Gazza’s tears, of England’s first heartbreaking penalties defeat – losing 4-3 to West Germany in the semi-finals – and of Lineker infamously getting caught short on the pitch. There aren’t many football songs that break out of the novelty bracket but this is just such a track, perfectly encapsulating the hopeful optimism of England fans without, for the most part, really sounding like a football song at all.
Eat My Goal
Not an official England track but Collapsed Lung’s football anthem Eat My Goal, released in 1996, became the soundtrack to Coca-Cola’s “Eat Football, Sleep Football, Drink Coca-Cola” advertising campaign that tied in with Euro 96.
Vindaloo
As well as the revived Three Lions, the France 98 World Cup also brought us Fat Les, aka Blur bassist Alex James, actor Keith Allen and artist Damien Hirst. Thanks to its easy to chant “nah nah nahs” and triumphant “We’re! Gonna! Score! One! More! Than! You!”, Vindaloo was an affectionate parody that became the unofficial hit of the tournament. Featuring comedian Paul Kaye (best known as Dennis Pennis) in a video sending up The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony, also look out for David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and a young Lily Allen, who are in there somewhere.
(How Does It Feel To Be) On Top Of The World
This one was actually the official song for 98, even though it’s Vindaloo you probably remember. Featuring a medley of artists including The Spice Girls, Echo And The Bunnymen, Space and Ocean Colour Scene – aka England United – but no actual England players (apart from a few cameos in the video), the song featured a nice sing-song chorus but wasn’t quite as memorable or rousing as the other offerings that year, and charted at number nine. This was the World Cup of Michael Owen’s incredible goal against Argentina, David Beckham’s infamous red card and defeat by Argentina on penalties – all in the same game.
Meat Pie, Sausage Roll
After the success of Three Lions, football songs were cool again – which meant everyone wanted to release one. Contenders in 1998 also included Granddad Roberts And His Son Elvis, with this ridiculous song that should have been sponsored by Greggs. “Ooh, we got a corner,” is the refrain, while it ends with the bizarre line: “No wonder my wee smells like Sugar Puffs, the stress I’m under.”
We’re On The Ball
Ant & Dec took over official duties for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, hailing then manager Sven-Goran Eriksson as England’s “super Swede” and referencing captain Golden Balls and the 5-1 win over Germany in the qualifiers the previous year. Despite the single essentially being PJ and Duncan’s musical revival, England were not quite ready to rumble and lost 2-1 to eventual winners Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Sven, Sven, Sven
Released a year earlier, Sven, Sven, Sven, by comedy duo Bell & Spurling, was also inspired by the 5-1 victory and the nation’s love for Eriksson at the time. Featuring women in England bikinis and dressed in Bavarian costume, the video is a reminder of how much times have changed in the last 20 years or so. The pair released an updated version, Gareth, Gareth, Gareth, for the World Cup in 2018, but it wasn’t quite as successful as their top 10 debut.
All Together Now
Written about the Christmas truce in the First World War in 1914, when soldiers from both sides put their weapons down to exchange gifts and play football in No Man’s Land, this song by The Farm was released in 1991 and has been used by numerous football teams since. Re-released for the 2004 Euros in Portugal, England were beaten by the hosts on penalties (naturally) in the quarter-finals.
World At Your Feet
The official England song for the Germany 2006 World Cup was released by Embrace, best known for hits including All You Good Good People, Come Back To What You Know, Ashes and Gravity in the 1990s and 2000s. “With the world at your feet, there’s no one you can’t beat/Yes it can be done,” sang frontman Danny McNamara. A nice effort that charted at number three and spent six weeks in the Top 40, but England were not so successful. Wayne Rooney was red-carded in the quarter-final against Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo became known as the winker – oh, and as chance would have it, they were knocked out on penalties.
Shout
While the only music people really remember from the South Africa World Cup in 2010 is Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) and the deafening sound of vuvuzelas, Dizzee Rascal and James Corden did also team up to release this unofficial song for England. Sampling Tears For Fears’ Shout and including the line “come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough”, the song did top the charts, but it probably won’t be remembered as one of the England greats. England went out 4-1 to Germany in the final 16, so it wasn’t the team’s greatest performance, either.
Sing 4 England
Chris “Unbelievable, Jeff” Kamara released Sing 4 England for the Euros in 2012, co-hosted in Poland and Ukraine. Harking back to the naff but lovable-sounding typical football songs of the 80s and 90s, it gets full marks for rousing positivity. “Come on and sing for ENG-ER-LAND”. We were all encouraged but sadly, we’d seen it all before, and England lost in the quarter-finals, to Italy, on penalties.
Ole (We Are England 21)
Ole was the Euro 2020 (yes, still Euro 2020, even though the tournament took place in 2021 – blame COVID) effort from Krept & Konan. A contemporary rap track that – ole, ole, oles aside – moved away from the traditional football song but still reflected the mood of the nation. Until they lost the final, to Italy, on penalties.
Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond’s 1969 hit Sweet Caroline became a feel-good hit all over again during the pandemic in 2020, and also smashed it at the Euros. DJ Tony Perry made the decision to play the song after England made it through to the quarter-finals thanks to a win over Germany, and a fan favourite was born. In a video message, the US singer-songwriter told The Telegraph he was “thrilled” to see fans belting the song out at Wembley, saying: “Well, I hope you can do it again – here’s to England.” Because good times never seemed so good – so good, so good… until the final, that is.
Whole Again
This sugary Atomic Kitten hit from 2000 found a new audience thanks to a reworked version paying tribute to Southgate – so much so that Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon went viral after performing it live to football fans watching the quarter-final victory over Ukraine in Croydon, so decided to re-release it as a new single. While some might say they could have put a bit more effort in and changed the rest of the lyrics, now is not the time for nit-picking. Altogether now, positive thoughts: “Southgate, you’re the one, you still turn me on – football’s coming home again.” Well, it was if you were living in Italy.
