Euro 2016: Maybe England and Roy Hodgson just suffered from bad timing

All four of the tournament's semi-finalists have been beaten by England within the last year

Roy Hodgson has had reason to cheer against all four of the Euro 2016 semi-finalists (Getty)

England's pampered, over-paid players (or so the narrative goes) have long since departed the tournament and taken up residence in sunnier climes, but Euro 2016 continues apace this week.

Just four countries remain as we get down to the serious business of the semi-finals, with the fairy-tale stories of Northern Ireland, Iceland and the Republic having come to a close to leave just Wales as the romantic's option.

The Welsh are joined by Portugal, world champions Germany and hosts France in the final four - and that is not all that links the quartet.

Deposed England coach Roy Hodgson can take a small slither of solace in the fact that he led the Three Lions to victory over each and every one of the four teams stil remaining in the competition within the last year.

A case of simple bad timing or, as so often seem the case with the national team, winning only when the pressure is off?

17 November 2015: England 2-0 France

Dele Alli celebrates after opening the scoring against France at Wembley last November (Getty)

The match was almost called off in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks four days previously, and instead the Wembley crowd paid their respects on an emotional evening, joining in with the visitors' national anthem and displaying the Tricolore in the crowd and on the arch as the players posed for a joint team photo. Dele Alli, with his first goal for his country, and Wayne Rooney scored in either half on a night where the result mattered little.

26 March 2016: Germany 2-3 England

Eric Dier scored a late winning header against world champions Germany earler this year (Getty)

Every other summer we insist we will not get carried away with the national team's chances and every year we fall into the same trap. This result did more than most to give supporters hope of something other than a disappointly familiar early exit in France, coming from behind to beat the world champions in their own backyard with a stirring second-half display. Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez had the hosts two up inside an hour in Berlin before Harry Kane reduced the arrears with a fine turn and shot. Jamie Vardy backheeled in his first for his country and Eric Dier completed the turnaround with a towering header in injury-time. What could possibly stop Roy's boys now?

2 June 2016: England 1-0 Portugal

Chris Smalling reacts after his late header settles last month's friendly against Portugal (Getty)

With a jaded Cristiano Ronaldo pulling out of the match having walked through Real Madrid's Champions League success the previous weekend, and the majority of the players just seeking to avoid any late injuries with the start of the tournament days away, a capacity crowd at Wembley were subjected to a droll match enlivened only by a dangerous tackle on Kane that saw Bruno Alves dismissed before the interval.

Chris Smalling did manage to head in a late winner for Hodgson's side to send them on their way to France with a win.

16 June 2016: England 2-1 Wales

Daniel Sturridge came off the bench to score the winner against Wales in the group stages (Getty)

England had began the finals well - on the pitch at least - impressing against Russia before being pegged back by a late equaliser. Despite again dominating proceedings in this second group match, England again struggled to convert that superiority into goals and went in at the break behind to a Gareth Bale free-kick. Two half-time changes sparked England into life, Vardy and Daniel Sturridge both entering the fray as Hodgson went for broke. Vardy forced the ball in from close range 10 minutes into the second half before fellow addition Sturridge danced through in injury time to force home a winner. England rejoiced but that was as good as it got for Hodgson - Wales going on to top the group and England eventually going out to Iceland.