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The summer of 2006 was widely anticipated as England’s defining moment.
Captained by David Beckham, featuring the prodigious talent of Wayne Rooney, anchored by Rio Ferdinand’s world-class defense, and led by Sven-Goran Eriksson into his third World Cup, optimism was pervasive.
Amidst the burgeoning celebrity culture, the hype was inescapable. From bustling pubs to prominent headlines, the tournament evolved into a shared national preoccupation.
What, then, precipitated the unraveling of England’s World Cup aspirations, culminating in both on-field disappointment and off-field discord?
Explore England 2006: The Golden Generation from Monday, 11 May on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
Available to UK users only.
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