Back to the Premier League Newsfeed

'England must win a tournament to be a Golden Generation' - former Three Lions keeper Martyn

Gareth Southgate's side are preparing for a second semi-final in the space of 12 months ahead of their Nations League date with Netherlands

No group of England players should be labelled a ‘Golden Generation’ until the team have won a major international tournament, according to former Three Lions goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.

During the early 2000s, a squad boasting the likes of Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard was saddled with the tag of being a ‘Golden Generation’ but repeatedly came up short in the latter stages of the World Cup and European Championship.

The modern-day England side contains arguably fewer star names, but reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia last summer and are now gunning for Nations League glory in Portugal this week.