Why England's Golden Generation Never Won a Trophy: Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole & Peter Crouch

The 1990 World Cup was pivotal for me watching Gaza. I remember thinking in my bedroom watching it, but I want to be that. I was unbelievably proud and the pride that I took walking out and again, like I say, knowing you're one of the best in your country never left me, but I never enjoyed. The games. My mum and dad and sister are in the crowd and the whole stand and the whole the whole stadium are booing me because of, you know, maybe a little campaign sort of against me.

The World Cup is almost here. I don't know about you, I'm excited. And I wanted to go back to a conversation we had with three men who lived in, arguably, England's greatest era of players and never got it over the line. I'm talking in this case about Rio Ferdinand Peter Crouch and Joe Cole. Between the three of them, they've got over 200 caps and were part of what's known as the Golden Generation.

That great group of English players, the best we've had in decades. But why did it never happen? What we found in this conversation is honestly one of the most open, fascinating breakdowns of what can go wrong inside a winning environment, and it's a story that can only be told long after the event has happened. So with England heading into another tournament, I think it's more relevant now than ever. And maybe this time, they're gonna get it right.

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