Euro 2024 live: Bellingham and Kane help England reach quarter-finals

At this stage I feel like a confession is in order.

I came home from work last night to an empty house – my daughter, young son and wife were staying at my mother-in-law’s.

I settled down on the couch to watch what I hoped would be an improved England performance against Slovakia, but found myself edging closer to the TV as the minutes ticked down.

At some point I started nervously fidgeting with my son’s Rubix Cube and finally snapped, throwing it in a fit of pique at the closest armchair.

Only, just like England’s approach play and finishing for much of the night, my aim was off and the toy instead hit the radiator and smashed into what felt like a thousand pieces in front me.

I hung my head in shame, but the TV suddenly caught my attention…England have a throw-in…Marc Guehi flicks it on…Bellinghaaaammmm!

My phone bleeps, a voice note from my seven-year-old son James blares out: “WHAT…A…FINISH!”

I assumed he hadn’t been watching, his love of football is normally countered by an attention span that doesn’t stretch to a full 90 minutes.

But now I realise this was his England moment. He is one of us now. A road of pain and hurt, punctuated by brief wonderful moments of joy, await him.

I should have warned him, but in one final shameful act of parenting I instead stoke the flames of hope that torment all England fans, and simply replied: “It’s coming home son, it’s coming home.”