Five reasons why the English job is the worst in football

#5 Burden of history

England always seem to find a way to collapse under pressure

With just one major international success – the 1966 World Cup – to speak of, every time the England football team step out on the pitch, the expectations and unfulfilled promises of 50 years weigh upon them.

One only needs to look at the Spanish team of the last decade to understand how this mentality works – once they won Euro 2008, the juggernaut was on a roll all through WC 2010 and Euro 2012. But until the success of 2008, Spain always seemed a little overwhelmed at being asked for a first major international success story since Euro 1964.

So when England square up to a penalty shootout in a major tournament, they lose their nerve; when Iceland equalises against them in a knockout match, they fumble their way towards conceding yet another rather than fighting back.

Success breeds success – disappointments work pretty much the same way. English players and managers need to win the battle within their minds first – then success on the pitch may be more straightforward than they imagine.