Andy Murray look away now! Gazza, Lomu, Henman and the six most disappointing British semi setbacks
Andy Murray has lost another Wimbledon semi-final to Rafael Nadal, but the British are no strangers to last four heartbreak…
6) Tim Henman v Goran Ivanisevic, Wimbledon semi-final 2001
‘Tiger’ Tim reached four semis at the All England club, but this was undoubtedly his best chance to make it to the final. Sadly, a combination of the weather and the big-serving Croat conspired to crush the dreams of all those on Henman Hill. The match started on Friday, continued (for just 51 minutes) on the Saturday and was finally completed on Sunday. When the heavens opened and the players trooped off Centre Court on day one of their three-day marathon, Henman led by two sets to one having won the third by a crushing 6-0 margin. Sadly, the rain derailed him and, by Sunday’s conclusion, the scoreboard read 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 7-6, 6-3 and Henman’s hopes had been washed away again.
5) England 29-45 New Zealand, Rugby World Cup 1995
Two words. Jonah. Lomu. At 6ft 4in the giant Kiwi is as tall as a second rower and, at 18st 10lbs, the weight of a prop. But… he could run 100 metres in 11 seconds and the wing sensation simply destroyed England in Cape Town. He scored four of the All Blacks’ six tries tries in the match, the most memorable of which saw him brush aside two attempted tackles before (quite literally) running over full-back Mike Catt and plonking the ball over the whitewash. Simples!
4) England 1-1 Germany (Germany win 6-5 on penalties), European Championship 1996
Six years after ‘that night’ in Turin (see below), England had their chance for revenge. After a stumbling start to the tournament against Switzerland, Terry Venables’ side had found their form with wins over Scotland and Holland, before seeing off Spain on spot-kicks in the quarter-finals. But the penalty pain returned in the last four. England had made a great start, taking the lead at Wembley after just three minutes through Alan Shearer, but Stefan Kuntz leveled for the Germans just 13 minutes later. The sides couldn’t be separated in the remaining 104 minutes which meant trial from 12 yards. And let’s be honest, we all knew how that was going to end, didn’t we?
3) New Zealand 49-6 Wales, Rugby World Cup 1987
Wales had sailed through the group stages, winning three out of three, before dispatching the old enemy England in the last eight. But then they ran into a rock solid All Black wall. Arguably the two proudest rugby nations in the world collided in Brisbane but, in truth, it was less a collision and more a demolition. The Kiwis ran in eight tries to the solitary Welsh effort, before seeing off France in the final in Auckland to claim the inaugural World Cup.
2) Roma 3-0 Dundee United (aggregate 3-2), European Cup, 1984
Before the days of the cash cow that is the Champions League, it was possible for the likes of Dundee United to reach the last four of Europe’s premier competition. And after winning the first leg 2-0 at Tannadice, it looked as though the Scottish champions could well ruin the Italians’ hopes of competing for the trophy on their home ground. Manager Jim McLean had described the Roma players as “Italian bastards” after the first leg, and he was greeted in the Olympic Stadium by a cacophony of boos and signs reading ‘God Curse Dundee United’ and ‘McLean F**k Off’. And his mood wouldn’t have changed after his side lost 3-0 in the second leg in the searing heat of a Roman afternoon. McLean left the pitch to a background of Roma players and officials giving him the finger, which would give anyone the hump. And that was without the fact that it later transpired the Serie A side had paid French referee Michel Vautrot £50,000 to ensure ‘fair play’.
1) England 1-1 West Germany (Germany win 4-3 on penalties), World Cup 1990
After the wilderness years of the '70s and '80s, England under the late, great Bobby Robson finally looked as though they had a side capable of challenging the world’s best. Just not from 12 yards, sadly. After an epic contest in Turin, it all came down to who could find the onion bag from the penalty spot, and the unflappable Germans were unerring in their accuracy as they dispatched all four of their spot-kicks with ease. Stuart Pearce, one of England’s bankers, saw his effort saved by Bodo Illgner, before Chris Waddle sent his into orbit. And that, as they say, was that. Cue Pavarotti and Gazza’s tears…