England take aim at 'big gun' curse

Apart from the 1966 World Cup, which England won on home soil, those are the only countries they have managed to beat in a knockout match at a major tournament.

Contrast that with their appalling record against the game's 'big guns' where, '66 apart, England have managed to lose all 10 of the one-off matches they have played against fellow World Cup winners (or winners-elect) in major championships.

The figures make sobering reading for those encouraged by Roy Hodgson's side's progress through the Euro 2012 group phase.

Throw in the fact that England are the only one of the last eight never to have reached a European Championship final and it make the confidence surrounding the team ahead of Sunday's quarter-final against Italy suddenly look a little misplaced.

In 1986 they finally managed a knockout stage win, beating Paraguay 3-0, but it all went wrong in the quarters when they were on the wrong side of Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" and brilliant solo goals for eventual winners Argentina.

At Italia '90 they got past Belgium and Cameroon, somewhat luckily, but Germany again proved a step too far with a penalty shootout defeat in the semis, followed by a loss to hosts Italy in the third-place play-off.

Brazil in 2002 and Germany in 2010 continued the stranglehold big nations have had over England, with 'upstarts' Portugal getting in on the act with two quarter-finals wins

The odds of success are lengthening.