England

Often overlooked due to the lack of a semi-final appearance, yet remembered fondly by fans for being unbeaten and stylish. A "what could have been" team. Unbeaten in the tournament, but failed to reach the semi-finals due to a bizarre second group stage format. A case of solid performance with no prize. Trevor Brooking and Kevin Keegan’s return vs Spain is etched in England lore. Bryan Robson’s 27-second goal is iconic, but wider cultural impact is limited. Robson’s rapid goal. The Spain stalemate. Ron Greenwood’s calm leadership. Iconic in their own low-key, melancholy way. A squad that had flair, grit, and unrealised potential. For many, this side was better than results suggest. There’s a quiet magic to what they represented.