The summer a golden generation lost its shine

Breaking news from the world of sport: Skip to main contentIntroGolden Era Golden Balls Gold Rings Fake Friends Fake SheikhsLet Us PrayGolden ChanceMeltdown“I don't look back at that time with any type of happiness. ” Rio Ferdinand Ask Rio Ferdinand about the phrase ‘golden generation’ and he will tell you it was “stupid”. Actually, he precedes that assessment with an expletive when considering the label in relation to England’s 2006 World Cup team.

“I feel embarrassed when I say it,” the former centre-back says in The Golden Generation, the new documentary looking at why a star-studded team – tipped to end 40 years of hurt since the 1966 triumph – unravelled on the biggest stage. “I don't look back at that time with any type of happiness. ”And yet, these were golden times – both on and off the field.

Match Details

Generational footballing talents, showbiz wives and girlfriends, a first foreign manager in Sven-Goran Eriksson – with a colourful private life to boot – their every move made the front and back pages of the newspapers at a time when celebrity culture was exploding. Built up so much, they fell hard, and there were a lot of questions about what went wrong. Twenty years on, have those involved got any more answers?

These were Champions League winners, Premier League champions, prolific goalscorers, midfield geniuses and defensive stalwarts at the top of the game. The key players(all stats pre 2006 World Cup)David Beckham (age: 31)Club: Real MadridMajor honours: 6x Premier League titles, 2x FA Cups and 1x Champions League (with Man Utd)Key info: England captain. Known for precise crossing and set pieces.

Proven to score goalsWayne Rooney (age: 20)Club: Man UtdKey info: Young star who has just come through the ranks. Known for pace, power and attacking threatFrank Lampard (age: 27)Club: ChelseaMajor honours: 2× Premier League titles and 1x League CupKey info: Proven goal-scorer from midfield. Intelligent on the ballSteven Gerrard (age: 26)Club: LiverpoolMajor honours: 1x Champions League, 2x FA Cup and 2x League CupKey info: Captain at Liverpool.

Reactions and Expectations

Can do it all, defending and attackingRio Ferdinand (age: 27)Club: Man Utd Major honours: 1x Premier League and 1x League CupKey info: Vital to England team because of composure, reading of the game and leadershipMichael Owen (age: 26)Club: NewcastleMajor honours: Ballon d’Or 2001, 1x FA Cup and 2x League Cup (with Liverpool)Key info: Proven goalscorer. Known for his pace“I just call them a damn good squad of players,” says Steve McClaren, Eriksson’s assistant before taking over as manager, when asked about the ‘golden generation’ label. The tag had first been applied in 2001 by the Football Association’s then chief executive Adam Crozier following a stunning 5-1 away win over Germany in a World Cup qualifier.

That team went on to lose in the quarter-finals at both the 2002 World Cup and 2004 European Championship. The 2006 World Cup in Germany was seen as the time for this special group of players to deliver.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.