England’s revamped system has helped avoid any

to turn so much associated with England around, and that is why that phrase warrants turning around. He has actually forced history-making through repetition.

The regular calamities that have afflicted England for two decades have been blown away by competence, by composure, by intelligence — by rigour.

Consider the key aspects of that quarter-final victory over Sweden. The symbolic break in history of reaching a semi-final for the first time in 22 years was matched by the feeling that this was England’s most convincing win in open play, when they just out-manoeuvred and outthought a properly competent team in 90 minutes.

Many might scoff that a lot of the opposition they’ve had in this run hasn’t been convincing, but the relevant point is that better England sides have suffered against similar teams because they haven’t been so canny, so well set up. So much might have ideally fallen into place for them, but Southgate has ensured they have also been best placed to take advantage of that.

The absence of that before this World Cup has instead allowed precisely the propensity for calamity that has been a hallmark of the last 20 years.

This World Cup will be typified by something else. And, even if there is a mishap in the semi-final or — maybe — the final, it just won’t be the same kind of issue because of the quality of the opposition, because of the success in already getting this far.