Since the 80's we really should have qualified for more tournaments as we always had decent players. Since 88 when we first qualified for the tournaments there has always been something though, a lot of the time a bad slice of luck.
Euro 88: Qualified, unlucky not to make the semi, 85th minute goal for Holland that would have knocked them out had we held on at 0-0. They went on to win it.
Italia 90: Qualified, made the quarters and only got knocked out 1-0 to the hosts after a goalkeeping error
Euro 92: Didn't Qualify: In a group with England, Turkey and Poland and only the top team made it through. We didn't lose any games but only difference is England beat Poland at home and we only drew 0-0. We had of won that we would have finished level and we had a much better goal difference
USA 94: Qualified Automatically from a group that included Spain and European Champs Denmark, thus preventing Denmark qualifying. Beat Italy, lost in 45 degree heat to Mexico in Orlando that would have topped the group for us and prevented us from playing Holland who beat us in the Orlando heat again.
Euro 96: Our team was in a bit of a transition and Jack Charlton's reign was coming to an end. We finished as one of the worst runners up so had to play the other which was Holland in a play off at Anfield, they were the better side and won.
France 98: We came second in a group we should have done better in. Lost a play off against Belgium. Was a disapointing campaign
Euro 2000: In a very tough qualifying group with Yugoslavia and Croatia who had just finished 3rd at France 98. We did well and but for an equaliser when playing Macadonia away with 6 seconds remaining we would have came first in the group. Instead we settled for second and lost on away goals in another play off this time against Turkey
Korea/Japan 2002: Again we finished second in a tough group that included Portugal and Netherlands (both semi finalists at Euro 2000. We didn't lose a game and qualified for Japan/Korea. Didn't do too badly either considering the Roy Keane fiasco. Eventually went out to Spain on penalties so technically didn't lose a game.
Euro 2004: Still a load of sh*t going on about Roy Keane. Public split. By the time the manager changed it was too late to salvage a place.
Germany 2006: It was a tight group between France, us, Switzerland and Israel. All teams drew with each other home and away apart from France beat us 1-0 in Dublin. What really cost us was Israel, last minute equaliser over in their place and throwing away a 2-0 lead in Dublin
Euro 2008: The only real time we were not totally unlucky not to qualify apart from 98, both teams were kind of in transition though