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Euro 2016: England to face Iceland in the last-16 having only ever won ONE European Championship knock-out tie

Three Lions got a relatively easy draw in France but boast terrible knock-out games record at European Championships

In the most complicated major tournament draw of all time, it was finally confirmed England would face the relatively easy task of playing Iceland in the Euro 2016 round of 16.

However, in order to overcome the tiny Scandinavian nation, the Three Lions will have to accomplish something they have only managed once in 56 years of European Championships — win a knock out tie.

epa05380403 Wayne Rooney of England in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 group B preliminary round match between Slovakia and England at Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-Etienne, France, 20 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT EDITORIAL USE ONLY
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England will face Iceland in Euro 2016 last-16 tie after second place finishCredit: EPA

Yes, the 0-0 draw penalty shoot-out victory over Spain in the Euro 96 quarter-final was England’s only success in one-off matches.

That famous game, which is the country’s sole win from a penalty shoot-out, was actually the Three Lions’ first knock-out tie at a European Championships.

England have played another two since — against Portugal (2004) and Italy (2012) — without success.

TOPSHOT - Iceland's midfielder Arnor Ingvi Traustason bottom celebrates his goal with teammate Iceland's midfielder Birkir Bjarnason during the Euro 2016 group F football match between Iceland and Austria at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris on June 22, 2016. Iceland won the match 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / TOBIAS SCHWARZTOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Iceland celebrate dramatic victory over Austria which clinched qualificationCredit: Getty Images

World Cup elimination ties have proved slightly more successful, but there have only been FIVE victories in the 50 years since 1966, and all coming against — ahem — mediocre opposition.

Here are the six major tournament wins.

World Cup 1986 last-16: 3-0 v Paraguay

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 18: England striker Gary Lineker turns away to celebrate after scoring the first goal against Paraguay during round 16 match of the FIFA World Cup between England and Paraguay at the Azteca Stadium on June 18, 1986 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by David Cannon/Allsport UK/Getty Images)
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Gary Lineker puts England 1-0 up against Paraguay in Mexico CityCredit: Getty Images

Fresh from scoring a hat-trick against Poland which saw England progress from the group, Gary Lineker added another two against the South Americans.

The Everton ace’s goal was scored either side of a Peter Beardsley strike.

Full of optimism, England prepared to face a Diego Maradona-led Argentina in the quarter-finals.

And it didn’t quite go to plan.

World Cup 1990 last-16: 1-0 v Belgium

1990 World Cup Finals, Second Phase, Bologna, Italy, 26th June, 1990, England 1 v Belgium 0 (after extra time), England's David Platt celebrates after scoring his dramatic winning goal in the last minute of extra time (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
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David Platt shows the incredible joy of a last-gasp winner for EnglandCredit: Getty Images

Four years later, and the nation was again full of hope.

After a slow start, England progressed through a group which included the Republic of Ireland.

And, with extra time almost up and penalties looming, David Platt gave the country its greatest football moment since 1966 with a stunning 120th minute swivelled volley to reach the quarter-finals.

World Cup 1990 quarter-finals: 3-2 v Cameroon

England's Gary Lineker scores from the penalty spot past Cameroon goalkeeper Thomas N'Kono during the England v Cameroon 1990 World Cup Quarter Final match.
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Gary Lineker scored two penalties as England overcame Cameroon at Italia 90Credit: DPA/Press Association Images

Roger Milla’s dancing skills had dazzled the globe as the African nation marched on.

Cameroon had beaten Argentina and knocked out Colombia to reach the last-eight.

But, despite taking a 2-1 lead against Sir Bobby Robson’s men, Lineker’s two penalties were enough to win the tie in extra-time.

England then faced Germany in the semi-finals — inevitably losing in a shoot-out.

Euro 96 quarter-finals: 0-0 v Spain 4-2 pens

Not the original used pic / A Different version Scanned from negative - higher quality
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Stuart Pearce entranced the nation as he passionately celebrated his spot-kickCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
22 Jun 1996: David Seaman of England saves Angel Nadal of Spain's penalty during the European soccer championship match between England and Spain at Wembley Stadium, London. England won the match after extra timein a penalty shoot-out by 0(4) 0(3). Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill/Allsport UK
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David Seaman gets down well to keep out a penalty from Miguel Nadal

England achieved the impossible and actually won a shoot-out!

David Seaman was the hero saved from Miguel Nadal after Fernando Hierro had hit the bar — but it was ‘Psycho’ Stuart Pearce’s rallying cry that lived long in the memory.

Of course, a spot-kick defeat to eventual winners, Germany, ensued in the semi-finals.

World Cup 2002, last-16: 3-0 v Denmark

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARC ASPLAND.THE TIMES.15.6.02.2002 WORLD CUP. ENGLAND VS DENMARK (3-0). NIIGATA STADIUM BIG SWAN. RIO FERDINAND HEADS INTO THE PATH OF DENMARK KEEPER SORENSEN TO OPEN THE SCORE ON SATURDAY.
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Rio Ferdinand gets the last touch to give England the lead against DenmarkCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

The ‘Golden Generation’ finished second in the Group of Death with a win against rivals and tournament favourites, Argentina, and draws against Sweden and Nigeria.

Denmark profited from a dismal display from holders France to finish top of their group, and the Scandinavians were simply blown away in Niigata.

Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and even Emile Heskey were on the scoresheet.

But Ronaldinho’s lobbed free-kick was enough to send England home at the quarter-final stage.

World Cup 2006, last-16: 1-0 v Ecuador

England's David Beckham (left) watches as his freekick goes just wide during the second round match against Ecuador at the Gottlieb Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart, Germany. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday June 25, 2006. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA"This image may only be used in (i) wire services, newspapers, magazines, newspaper or magazine supplements and (ii) any internet version of such newspapers, magazines or supplements, or other editorial internet sites provided that these are not intended for, or promoted as being available for, mobile access/viewing ("Permitted Publications") and use is subject to the following restrictions:(i) Images may be published for editorial news reporting purposes only.(ii) Images may not be used in association with the names, marks, symbols or logos of any commercial entity.(iii) No alteration (other than, in the case of electronic publication, cropping) or manipulation may be made of (and in the case of electronic publication no text or image may be superimposed over) any published image so as to obscure or remove a sponsor identification image or to add or overlay the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup (other than copyright and photographer credits).(iv) In the case of electronic publication, images must appear as still images (and not as moving images or rapid-sequence streaming or refreshed images eg slideshows).This image may not be used on internet website publications which are viewable by means of mobile tecnology (such as WAP-enabled mobile websites) or transmitted via mobile technology (such as mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging).EMPICS will not continue to supply images from the FIFA World Cup to users who do not comply with the restrictions set out above and such failure may result in legal action being brought against users."
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David Beckham curls a free-kick around the Ecuador wall to scoreCredit: Empics

England were unimpressive as they topped a group including Sweden, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago — only avoiding hosts, Germany, after they thrashed Ecuador in their final first phase match.

It was a dull affair in Stuttgart. In his penultimate match as skipper, David Beckham made the difference with a free-kick, the only real action of any note.

Portugal awaited in the quarter-finals as England saw Wayne Rooney receive a red card before the inevitable spot-kick loss.

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