Question: when did england last win an opening game world cup
Answer: 1 -- 0 Francis Group B Round 2 West Germany 0 -- 0 Spain 0 -- 0 1986 Group F Portugal 0 -- 1 Morocco 0 -- 0 Poland 3 -- 0 Lineker ( 3 ) Round of 16 Paraguay 3 -- 0 Lineker ( 2 ) , Beardsley Quarter - final Argentina 1 -- 2 Lineker 1990 Group F Republic of Ireland 1 -- 1 Lineker Netherlands 0 -- 0 Egypt 1 -- 0 Wright Round of 16 Belgium 1 -- 0 ( aet ) Platt Quarter - final Cameroon 3 -- 2 ( aet ) Platt , Lineker ( 2 ) Semi-final West Germany 1 -- 1 ( aet ) Lineker Third - place play - off Italy 1 -- 2 Platt 1998 Group G Tunisia 2 -- 0 Shearer , Scholes Romania 1 -- 2 Owen Colombia 2 -- 0 Anderton , Beckham Round of 16 Argentina 2 -- 2 ( aet ) Shearer , Owen 2002 Group F Sweden 1 -- 1 Campbell Argentina 1 -- 0 Beckham Nigeria 0 -- 0 Round of 16 Denmark 3 -- 0 Ferdinand , Owen , Heskey Quarter - final Brazil 1 -- 2 Owen 2006 Group B Paraguay 1 -- 0 Gamarra ( o.