It was June 14th 2014 and we all did what we always do, we started with high hopes and enthusiasm. 90 minutes later and it was back to the usual heartbreak but that wasn't until Raheem Sterling had given us a moment of magic, hadn't he?!
It's finally here World Cup fever is upon us with Russia vs Saudi Arabia, who doesn't love watching those two teams. And here in England it will reach levels previously unknown to man on Monday when the Three Lions kick off their campaign against Tunisia but let's look back to four years ago and one seemingly wonderful moments when our eyes unfortunately deceived us all.
Of course last time then Roy Hodgson's team couldn't get past the Group Stages in Brazil and it all started with the game against Cesare Prandelli's Italy.
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As the sun beamed down in Manchester England took to the pitch, in Manaus, with usual hope that somehow the Three Lions would replicate 1966 despite reaching just one semi-final since.
At 0-0 with just three minutes on the clock Raheem Sterling let rip from outside the area for one of the greatest World Cup goals ever scored. That's what literally everyone thought when the goal rippled, in fact even the BBC showed the 'goal' graphic and yet it hadn't gone in.
There wasn't a single one of us who didn't jump for joy but alas Sterling hadn't actually scored:
I can still vividly remember being sat on my friend's patio with recently barbecued food in front of us and the tv placed at his patio doors facing outside so we could enjoy the weather and watch the game and springing to my feet in euphoria.
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I've not known such short lived excitement and instantly disappointing anti-climax since, well you get the idea.
From there things only got worse.
Claudio Marchisio put Italy in front just after the half hour mark after Andrea Pirlo's dummy from an Italian confused every England defender and fell to his midfield partner on the edge of the area.
Check out our video on England players you'd forgotten about:
Daniel Sturridge actually got England level just minutes later, finding the back of the net after Wayne Rooney's brilliant cross and, whilst the Three Lions arguably deserved at least a point, Mario Balotelli's header five minutes into the second half dealt England a defeat.
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Of course Hodgson's side would go on to lose to Uruguay and draw with Costa Rica, resulting in an early trip home. Italy also got knocked out after the three group games.
For one moment, one seemingly everlasting moment, Sterling had put England ahead, it just wasn't real!
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Russia 2018, World Cup news, England, World Cup, Italy, Raheem Sterling
