Prime
1966 at Wembley, the golden generation of 2004, or Southgate's 2018 run. More than one England is playable — including sides that never lifted a trophy.
Editorial verdict
1966 remains the only defensible answer by achievement and is our overall pick. The 2004 squad wins the talent-on-paper argument, while 2018 restored tournament belief, but neither converted its strongest qualities into a final.
Candidate 1
The only star. Banks, Moore, Charlton, Hurst — and a World Cup at Wembley.
Open squad page →1966
Alf Ramsey
Starting XI
Candidate 2
Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, Rooney. The names still look like a final. The tournament did not.
Open squad page →2004
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Starting XI
Candidate 3
Kane's Golden Boot, a semi-final, and the first time in a generation it felt close.
Open squad page →2018
Gareth Southgate
Starting XI
England 1966 vs England 2004
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