Like this need to be embraced

perspective, they will not be heard – they are shouting for calm in the middle of a hurricane.

Whatever the result of England’s semi-final against Croatia, all the same problems will still exist, all the same concerns will be there, the issues that really matter will remain in the morning. But for a few hours, at least, we can invest our emotion and energy in something more trivial, more fun.

Embrace it. Whatever happens in Moscow this evening, whether Croatia prove too good, whether England come up short, whether they are crushed, or feel aggrieved at the end of an undeserved defeat, Gareth Southgate and his team have given their country a reason to cheer.

It has already been a fantastic World Cup, a brilliantly barmy summer of sporting enjoyment. Yet it could be so much more.

In years to come, we will always remember this team reaching this semi-final. Those of us old enough to have witnessed the last one, in Italy in 1990, know these opportunities do not come along very often. However, immortality awaits tonight if they are victorious.

Just like the Englishmen who won the World Cup in 1966, it is the generations who follow who will idolise them, long after we are gone, if they go on to become world champions.

That is what is at stake and that is why you woke up with that feeling this morning.

Who knows how long it will be until you experience it another time, but hopefully we will do it all over again on Sunday ahead of the final.