England will be hoping to continue their impressive recent record in major tournaments when they head to Switzerland for this summer's European Championship.
Having achieved success at Wembley three years ago, the Lionesses head into the tournament looking to defend their crown, but face a challenging task against the likes of Spain and France whilst also dealing with problems of their own, following the retirement's of Mary Earps and Fran Kirby along with the withdrawal of experienced centre-back Millie Bright.
However, there is no doubt that England remain of one of the top nations in not just European football, but in the world. The Lionesses have made a steady rise to become a force in women's football having enjoyed plenty of memorable moments across the globe at tournaments gone by.
We take a look at how England have fared in their last five major tournament, starting by going all the way back to ten years ago when the Lionesses first made a name for themselves at the 2015 Women's World Cup.
-
2015 Women's World Cup: 3rd Place
Having hosted the Olympics just three years earlier, England headed to Canada for take part in what was their fourth Women's World Cup. The Lionesses had previously qualfied for the 1995, 2007 and 2011 editions - exiting at the quarter-finals on all three occasions.
The Team GB women's football side certainly made a name for themselves in 2012, with one of their most memorable moments being a 1-0 victory over Brazil in front of over 70,000 fans at Wembley. Following that tournament, people were beginning to take an interest in the Lionesses.
Under the management of Mark Sampson, England started their group stage campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to France thanks to a first half strike from Eugenie Le Sommer. However, late goals from Fran Kirby and Karen Carney ensured England would pick up their first win of the group against Mexico.
Sampson's side would secure 2nd place in the group thanks to a 2-1 win over Colombia in Montreal to set up a last-16 tie with Norway.
Solveig Gulbrandsen would open the scoring for the Norwegian's in the second half before captain Steph Houghton equalised. Current Lionesses full-back Lucy Bronze would go on to score the winning goal.
Awaiting the Lionesses in the quarter-finals was host nation Canada. In front a bumper crowd in Vancouver, quickfire goals from Jodie Taylor and Bronze would silence the hosts as they picked up a fourth straight 2-1 win to make it the semi-finals for the very first time.
England faced a challenging match against Japan in the final four. With the score finely poised at 1-1 and set to be heading to extra-time, the Lionesses suffered heartbreak in added time when the unfortunate Laura Bassett diverted the ball into her own net.
It was a heads in hands moment for both Bassett and the 2.4 million people watching back home.
But in the third-place play-off with Germany, an extra-time penalty from Fara Williams ensured England would pick up the bronze medal and exit the tournament with their heads held high.
-
Women's Euro 2017: Semi-Finals
After a memorable World Cup in Canada, Sampson once again led the Lionesses into a major tournament - this time in the Netherlands at Women's Euro 2017.
England had a respectable record in the European Championship's and had reached the final in 2009 before suffering a 6-2 loss at the hands of Germany.
The Lionesses enjoyed a flawless group stage campaign, which started with a 6-0 thrashing of debutants Scotland that including a hat-trick from Jodie Taylor.
Taylor, along with Fran Kirby, would both get on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win over Spain, before England made it three wins from three in Group D against Portugal with Nikita Parris scoring the winner.
The quarter-finals pitted England with France and, in a closely fought game, a winning goal on the hour mark from Taylor - her fifth of the tournament - sent the Lionesses to the semi-finals.
However, their run would come to a disappointing end against the Netherlands as goals from Vivianne Miedema and Danielle Van de Donk along with a late Millie Bright own goal secured a 3-0 win for the Oranje, who would go to the win the final 4-2 against Denmark.
There was certainly mixed emotions from England following their exit having missed a golden opportunity to pick up silverware after being the highest-ranked side left in the semi-finals. However, there was a positive sign that for the second consecutive tournament, the Lionesses had made the semi-finals.
-
2019 Women's World Cup: 4th Place
England headed to France for the 2019 Women's World Cup with plenty of belief and confidence. However, there had been plenty of change off the field, as in September 2017, manager Mark Sampson was sacked following allegations from the FA of 'inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour' whilst the coach of Bristol Academy.
Phil Neville came in to replace Sampson which raised plenty of eyebrows due to his lack of experience - the only real experience of note was at La Liga side Valencia as brother Gary's assistant which had only lasted a matter of months.
Nonetheless, Neville was keen to prove people wrong and understood the task at hand. The former Manchester United and Everton full-back was determined to lead the Lionesses to World Cup glory across the English channel.
England were drawn into a group containing Scotland, Argentina and 2015 finalists Japan. Goals from Nikita Parris and Ellen White was enough for the Lionesses to see off Scotland, despite a late consolation from Claire Emslie.
A 1-0 win over Argentina secured their place in the knockout stages before confirming top spot in the group by defeating Japan 2-0.
Cameroon would await England in the last-16 and - despite a fiery encounter - it was comprehensive 3-0 victory for Neville's side. The Lionesses would then progress to back-to-back World Cup semi-finals with a win over Norway courtesy of goals from Jill Scott, White and Bronze.
However, a clash with the world champions the United States was certainly a tall order if they were to make it to the final. After White cancelled out Christen Press' opener, a winning goal from Alex Morgan was enough to send the US through despite Steph Houghton missing a penalty late on.
Defeat to Sweden in the third place play-off meant England's campaign ended in disappointment. However, the Lionesses were not ready for what was to happen three years later.
-
Women's Euro 2022: Winners
On the 3rd December 2018, it was announced that England would host the 2021 European Championship This was certainly an exciting time for the Lionesses and, after their 2019 World Cup campaign, many were looking forward to a home Euros.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic meant the tournament, along with the men's Euros and Tokyo Olympics, was pushed forward a year.
As well as this, Phil Neville had stepped down as manager to take on the role at newly-formed MLS side Inter Miami with owner and former teammate David Beckham.
Sarina Weigman was appointed as the new manager having led the Netherlands to Euro 2017 success and the World Cup final in 2019. Under her guidance, the Lionesses headed into the delayed Euros unbeaten in Weigman's first 14 matches, picking up 12 wins, scoring 84 times and conceding just three.
England kicked off the tournament with a 1-0 win against Austria in front of a sold-out Old Trafford - Beth Mead's first-half strike proving enough. However, in their next match against Norway, the Lionesses tore apart the Norwegian's with an impressive 8-0 thrashing, which included a hat-trick from Mead.
The hosts would make it three wins from three and 14 goals without reply as they dismantled Northern Ireland five goals-to-nil. Mead once again scored to take her goalscoring tally to five whilst an Alessia Russo brace put her on three. Despite an impressive group stage performance, the Lionesses knew the real test was in the knockout-stages.
Weigman's side faced Spain in the quarter-finals as Esther Gonzalez put the Spaniards ahead. As the match headed towards the closing stages, Ella Toone stepped forward to volley home from close range and send the game to extra-time. A stunning strike in extra-time from Georgia Stanway sent England into the last-four.
Awaiting them was a star-studded Sweden side, who had dominated in the opened third at Bramall Lane. However, the Lionesses weathered the storm as Mead, Bronze, Kirby and a sensational backheel goal from Russo sent the Swedes packing, and booked their place at Wembley against none other than eight-time European champions Germany.
Having made it to the semi-finals at the previous three tournaments, England had finally managed to get over the line and into a final. A chance to win their first European Championship in front of a packed-out crowd at Wembley was too good of an opportunity to turn down.
A delightful dink from Toone put the hosts in front, only for Lina Magull to level with 11 minutes to go. With extra-time needed to settle the winner, step forward Chloe Kelly.
As Lauren Hemp delivered a corner into the mixer, a goalmouth scramble resulted in the ball falling to Kelly - whose hopes of playing in the tournament were in jeopardy a year prior following an ACL injury - poked home the winner to spark scenes of jubiliation as the Lionesses finally secured silverware.
-
2023 Women's World Cup: Finalists
A year on from their European Championship success, England headed down under to Australia and New Zealand for the World Cup, hoping to finally make it past the semi-final stages.
The Lionesses were drawn into an intruging group that featured sides from all corners of the globe. First up was tournament debutants Haiti, who proved a tough nut to crack as a Stanway penalty was all that separated the sides.
An early goal from Lauren James was enough to defeat their European counterparts Denmark before a 6-1 thrashing of China ensured the Lionesses had gone back-to-back World Cup's with nine points from nine.
A round-of-16 clash with Nigeria proved difficult for England as penalties was needed to settle the winner. Despite Stanway missing the first spot kick, Nigeria struck their first two off-target. Bethany England, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood all converted from 12-yards before Kelly smashed home the winning penalty.
Goals from Hemp and Russo helped England come from behind to defeat Colombia and set up a semi-final clash with hosts Australia. It proved to be third-time lucky in the final four, as after Sam Kerr cancelled out Toone's opener, Hemp and Russo once again proved to be the heroes to secure England's place in the final.
For a chance to become world champions, Spain were the only team standing in their way. However, Olga Carmona's first-half strike was enough to win it for the Spaniards who - despite Mary Earps denying Jenni Hermoso from the penalty spot - were too strong for England.
