England 2006: The Golden Generation – Watch the documentary trailer

The summer of 2006 was meant to be England’s moment.

With David Beckham as captain, prodigious young star Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand anchoring a world-class defense and Sven-Goran Eriksson leading England to its third major tournament, belief was everywhere.

In an era when celebrity culture was exploding, the hype was relentless. From packed pubs to front-page headlines, the tournament has become a shared national obsession.

So why did England’s World Cup dream come to an end amid on-field pain and off-field fury?

Watch England 2006: The Golden Generation on Monday, May 11 on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sound.

Available to UK users only.