India, June 2 -- There is a number that haunts English football till date. A number like no other. Not a jersey number, not a scoreline, just a year. 1966. The only and the last time England held the World Cup, at home, in a world that felt like it belonged to them.

In years that followed, England came closest to the crown on two occasions. In 1990, Bobby Robson's men made it to the semifinals for the first time at a World Cup since that win in 1966. But West Germany halted their run, before an error from goalkeeper Peter Shilton against Italy in the third-place playoff saw England finish fourth. 2018 witnessed a similar. 'It's coming home' echoed the streets of Russia as Harry Kane-led England marched into semis, only to be stunned by C...