The summer of 2006 was supposed to be England’s time to shine.
With David Beckham leading as captain, Wayne Rooney emerging as the explosive young talent, Rio Ferdinand anchoring a world-class defense, and Sven-Goran Eriksson guiding the team into his third major tournament, optimism was widespread.
In an era when celebrity culture was at its peak, the hype was overwhelming. From packed pubs to front-page headlines, the tournament captured the nation’s collective obsession.
So what went wrong? Why did England’s World Cup dream end in on-field heartbreak and off-field bitterness?
Watch the documentary *England 2006: The Golden Generation*, available from Monday, 11 May on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds (UK viewers only).
