The agony and the ecstasy: Previous years' World Cup games as seen in Portsmouth pubs

As we build up to Saturday night’s England game against Panama, here’s what it has been like in Portsmouth during recent World Cups

It’s been an era of relative success for England at major tournaments - certainly more success than those who remember the nineties and noughties know - but even with the highs of the Gareth Southgate era, England fans have also tasted disappointment.

We’ve been in Euro finals and World Cup semi-finals, and what has remained a constant has been the steadfast support and excitement in pubs across the city for those following the competitions from afar.

Here we have a gallery of pictures of recent World Cups. You’ll find games against France, Senegal, Wales, the USA and Iran from 2022, and Colombia, Sweden and Croatia in 2018. Also watch out for the Portsmouth-based Italians who sneak in...

Going back to this year, after the thrills of the victory over Croatia and the dreariness of the goalless snore-draw against Ghana, we await Panama on Saturday night. Four points is probably enough to get us through already - let’s hope we see some pace, flair and power to propel us properly into the knockouts. But