Biggest Regrets? Michael Owen Picks Two Tournaments England’s ‘Golden Generation’ Of David Beckham & Co Should Have Won

Category

Football News

Former England striker Michael Owen has opened up on the painful near-misses suffered by England’s famous “Golden Generation,” revealing the two tournaments he believes the Three Lions should have won.

England’s star-studded squads of the late 1990s and early 2000s featured legendary names such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole and Owen himself. Despite the enormous talent available, the team repeatedly fell short on the biggest stage.

Now, with England preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under Thomas Tuchel, Owen has reflected on the missed opportunities that still haunt many supporters.

Owen’s Stunning Rise With England

Michael Owen exploded onto the international scene during the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

At just 18 years old, the Liverpool striker became England’s youngest-ever tournament goalscorer and instantly announced himself to the world with his unforgettable solo goal against Argentina in the Round of 16.

However, that tournament ended in heartbreak after David Beckham’s controversial red card and another painful penalty shootout defeat.

Looking back, Owen admitted that the 1998 squad had every reason to believe they could have gone much further.

2002 World Cup Remains Owen’s Biggest “What If”

While the 1998 exit still hurts, Owen believes the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea represented England’s greatest missed opportunity.

Managed by Sven-Goran Eriksson, England entered the tournament with an incredible squad packed with elite talent and confidence. After famously defeating Germany 5-1 during qualification, hopes were high that the team could finally end decades of disappointment.

Unfortunately, England ran into eventual champions Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Owen believes that single matchup changed everything.

The former striker explained that the other side of the draw opened up perfectly, with Germany, Turkey and South Korea among the remaining contenders. He strongly suggested England may have reached the final — and possibly won the tournament — had they overcome Brazil.

Ronaldinho’s unforgettable free-kick and Brazil’s star power ultimately crushed those dreams.

Euro 2004 Another Painful Missed Chance

The second tournament Owen believes England should have won was Euro 2004 in Portugal.

That squad arguably represented the peak of England’s Golden Generation, with Wayne Rooney emerging as one of the best young players in world football while Beckham, Gerrard and Lampard were entering their prime years.

England looked dominant early in the tournament and appeared on course to eliminate hosts Portugal before injuries and another devastating penalty shootout defeat changed the story once again.

Owen specifically pointed to Rooney’s injury during the quarter-final as a major turning point.

He also noted that Greece surprisingly reached the final, leaving many England fans wondering what might have happened if the Three Lions had simply found a way past Portugal.

A Generation That Promised So Much

Despite producing some of the greatest footballers England has ever seen, the Golden Generation ultimately failed to deliver an international trophy.

For many supporters, that era remains one of football’s greatest unanswered questions.

The team consistently possessed world-class quality but repeatedly suffered from injuries, red cards, controversial moments and penalty heartbreak on the biggest stages.

Owen’s reflections serve as another reminder of just how close England came to ending their long wait for international glory.

Can The Current England Squad Finally Deliver?

With Thomas Tuchel now leading England into the 2026 World Cup, attention turns to whether the current generation can finally succeed where Beckham, Owen and Rooney could not.

England possess another hugely talented squad capable of competing with the world’s best, but history has shown that talent alone is never enough at major tournaments.

For Owen, the painful memories of 2002 and 2004 still stand out as the moments when England’s Golden Generation came closest to football immortality.

Want To Advertise With Us? Contact sales@ventolitemarketing.com