Well you’ve had a fabulous holiday. The bags are packed, you’ve waved goodbye and the taxi is booked. All that remains is that final journey home. It is coming home isn’t it? There is nothing to stop you on the way to the airport except for a road block manned by Captain Chiellini and his boys in blue. Just put on “Sweet Caroline” and relax. What can possibly go wrong?

Well let’s consider Italy first. They are on an unbeaten run of 33 games with a current winning streak of 14 matches. Roberto Mancini and his orchestra won all their group fixtures before disposing of Austria, Belgium and Spain in the knockout stages. They have Donnarumma in the nets. Chiellini and his sparring partner Bonucci in defence -a partnership that reminds me of Gentile and Scirea in the 1982 World Cup Final. A midfield bristling with the talent of Locatelli, Jorginho and Verratti. Up front the more than mobile Immobile, the diminutive Insigne and the predatory Chiesa. Can they be beaten? Spain as to be expected pushed them all the way in a thrilling semi-final but Austria also took them to extra time losing narrowly 2-1.

Can England now do in front of a raucous Wembley what both Spain and Belgium failed to do? I think we can all but name the England line-up now. Ten places are certain just as it was for our opening group game v Croatia. Who gets that final shirt? Saka? Sancho? England expects that every man will do his duty. Italy will be favourites and rightly so. This is by no means England’s greatest team but they have battled their way to the final without ever reaching the heights.

Will this be 1966 again or 1066? A nation awaits.