As England prepare to meet Italy in Euro 2020 Final this weekend, we take a trip down memory lane and reflect on where the members of the Three Lions team to face Italy in their last Euro meeting in 2012 are now.
With Roy Hodgson having been appointed as manager just weeks before the tournament began following Fabian Capello’s sudden resignation in February 2012, England faced a tough tournament as they adapted to Hodgson’s style and won a difficult Group D containing France, Sweden and Ukraine.
Italy however finished as Group C runners-up behind Spain which meant that the Three Lions and Azzurri would meet in the Quarter-Finals, where Italy prevailed 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw at Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine.
We therefore take a look at reflect on where England’s starting eleven and three substitutes who featured from the bench are now, with some having retired whilst others departed their clubs for pastures new in the following years.
England
Joe Hart (Goalkeeper)
Joe Hart was England’s no.1 goalkeeper for this Quarter-Final nine years ago just like he was at Manchester City, as the Citizens won their first Premier League title just one month earlier.
Despite saving Riccardo Montolivo’s penalty as the Three Lions crashed out 4-2 on penalties, Hart has since gone on to fall out of favour for club and country as he eventually endured two loan spells at Torino and West Ham, prior to joining Burnley from 2018 for two years where he made 24 appearances.
Hart is now amongst Spurs’ goalkeeping selection where he made ten appearances in all competitions last season.
Defence
Glen Johnson (Right-Back)
Johnson featured as right-back in this match and went on to remain a mainstay at Liverpool until departing the Reds for Stoke in summer of 2015, a year after last playing for England at 2014 FIFA World Cup where the Three Lions crashed out in the Group Stage.
Having spent three seasons at Stoke in which the Potters suffered relegation at end of 2017-18 season, Johnson was released and decided in January 2019 to retire from professional football.
John Terry (Centre-Back)
Terry entered this tournament off the back of being stripped of England captaincy earlier that year following a racial incident involving Anton Ferdinand in October 2011, yet was still selected for the squad off the back of winning 2011-12 UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.
2012 was however Terry’s final year playing for the national team as he retired from international football in September of that year, although he went on to play for Chelsea until he was released in summer 2017 and went on to play for Aston Villa prior to retiring from professional football in October 2018.
Terry now serves as Assistant Head Coach at Villa serving under club manager, Dean Smith who offered Terry a role in his backroom team upon his appointment just weeks after Terry’s retirement.
Joleon Lescott (Centre-Back)
Lescott was part of Manchester City’s title winning squad in 2012 when he was selected for Euro 2012, going on to score against France in their Group D opener as the Three Lions advanced as group winners to the Quarter-Final tie against Italy.
Lescott’s international career however concluded in 2013 before he was released by Man City in 2014, going on to feature for West Brom, Aston Villa, AEK Athens and Sunderland before announcing his retirement in summer 2017.
Since retiring, Lescott has returned to Man City as Loans Manager where he prepares youth players for life away from City on loan at various clubs around the world, as well as conducting TV punditry for various broadcasters.
Ashley Cole (Left-Back)
Cole started all four matches at Euro 2012 and ultimately missed England’s fourth penalty which cost the Three Lions a place in the semi-finals, but continued to play for England and Chelsea until he departed the Blues in 2014 for AS Roma and was snubbed for 2014 World Cup.
Cole eventually went on to spend two seasons in Serie A before switching to LA Galaxy until 2018 before returning to England at Derby County, where he scored just once in 12 appearances before retiring from professional football but stayed at Pride Park as a coach.
Frank Lampard who was Derby manager at the time switched to Chelsea in Summer 2019 and took Cole with him, where the former fullback now remains as Academy Coach despite Lampard’s sacking in January 2021.
Midfield
Steven Gerrard (Central Midfielder)
Gerrard had scored England’s opening penalty after this Quarter-Final went to penalties following a goalless draw in their eventual exit, before eventually going on to continue playing for Liverpool until 2015 when he joined LA Galaxy before announcing his retirement in November 2016.
Gerrard meanwhile concluded his international career in July 2014 after a disastrous World Cup and went on to become manager of Liverpool U19s in Autumn 2017, before being signed as Rangers manager in May 2018 where he guided the Gers to the Scottish Premiership title last season to end Celtic’s dominance.
Scott Parker (Central Midfielder)
Parker was part of Tottenham Hotspur when he was named in the squad but left North London at end of the following season for Fulham as his international career also concluded, where he finished his playing career before returning to Spurs in 2017-18 season as a Youth Club.
Summer 2018 saw Fulham snap Parker up as a first-team coach and was named as caretaker manager in late February 2019, going on to guide the club to relegation then instant promotion via 2020-21 Championship Play-Offs.
Parker however departed Craven Cottage in June 2021 to take up a new challenge at Bournemouth as the Cherries looked for a radical change of direction in their managerial appointment, having often hired former players and staff as manager for several years.
James Milner (Right Wing)
Milner arrived at this tournament off the back of a maiden Premier League title with Man City of whom he stayed with until summer 2015, as he switched to Liverpool and has gone on to score 40 goals in 375 appearances across both clubs since England’s exit at Euro 2012.
On the international stage, Milner went on to represent the Three Lions until his retirement from international duty in August 2016, following discussions with then new manager – Sam Allardyce, although he still continues to play for Liverpool.
Ashley Young (Left Wing)
Young was part of Manchester United at the time and continued to play for the Red Devils who he helped to five further titles before departing in January 2020 for Inter Milan but has now returned to Aston Villa for a second spell after previously playing for the Villains between 2006-11.
On the international stage, Young missed England’s third penalty which ultimately contributed towards’ England’s progression but continued to play for the Three Lions until 2013, prior to being snubbed for four years until Southgate briefly brought him back into the fold between 2017-18.
Attack
Wayne Rooney (SS)
Rooney entered this tournament off the back of 34 goals in 43 appearances for Man Utd during 2011-12 season and scored England’s second spot-kick against Italy en route to their exit.
Since that defeat, Rooney went on to score 139 goals for club and country despite departing Utd in summer 2017 to return to Everton, only to be released to join DC United in MLS for two seasons ahead of concluding his playing career at Derby where he became manager after Philip Cocu was sacked in Autumn 2020.
Rooney concluded his international career in November 2018 after he was
Danny Welbeck (Forward)
Welbeck was amongst a promising selection of young players when selected for Euro 2012 but since featuring against Italy in summer 2012, injury has often been the striker’s biggest issue as he spent two further seasons at Utd before spending five injury-disrupted campaigns at Arsenal.
After leaving the Gunners, Welbeck joined Watford for 2019-20 season but only contributed three goals in 20 appearances as the Hornets suffered relegation, before switching to Brighton where he enjoyed a positive campaign last season with six goals in 24 appearances.
Welbeck meanwhile continued to be selected for England until he was dropped after the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where the Three Lions finished fourth as he featured in the Third-Place Play-Off against Belgium.
Substitutes
Andy Carroll – Upon conclusion of Euro 2012, Carrol was sold by Liverpool to West Ham where he stayed until returning to Newcastle United in summer 2019. His England career however ended in 2012 and hasn’t been selected since.
Theo Walcott – Continued to play for Arsenal until he was sold to Everton in January 2018 but spent last season on loan at his former club – Southampton, where he now has signed a permanent contract. Walcott also continued to be selected for England in 2013, 15 & 16 but hasn’t been called up since.
Jordan Henderson – Continues to play for Liverpool who he captained to 2019-20 Premier League title as well as England, scoring his first international goal in July 2021 against Ukraine in Euro 2020 Quarter-Final.