At times, being an England fan can be one of the most excruciating experiences in life; yet at times it can also be the most euphoric.

There is no denying that the mood of the nation yesterday afternoon was utterly dictated by the result of the encounter against Slovenia. A win and we would progress through to the knock-out stages of the tournament. Anything less would see our sorry players arrive back to these shores prematurely in what would surely go down as one of England’s most embarrassing FIFA World Cup campaigns ever.

To say that here at Seven46 we fully embraced the mood of the day is somewhat an understatement. The office was dramatically converted from the typically hectic Central London working environment it is on a daily basis to a vacant, tranquil space as we all sought refuge in the boardroom for two, vital and utterly painful hours!

The wine, beer and Pimms were flowing in an attempt to calm our nerves. Yet thankfully, alcohol was not as necessary as was instantly assumed, as the performance of the heroic lions appeared to do the calming for us.

At full-time, after a convincing and thoroughly deserved 1-0 win, feelings of joy and relief reverberated throughout the office and even more so through the streets of London.

After the disappointment and general confusion that resulted from England’s first two group games, a new found sense of excitement had immediately replaced the dissatisfaction experienced most prevalently after the 0-0 draw with Algeria.

We are through to the last 16, and even though we have the almighty and always unpleasant task of facing the Germans, we stuck together as a nation to prevail when it mattered most.

And that is the magic of the World Cup in England. As the most fanatical nation in the world when it comes to supporting our football team, the joy of winning a game on the biggest stage is a victory that is enjoyed by every single person across the land. Not only does it hold a special feeling due to the importance of the result. But the way in which we come together as a nation – whether in the form of a tense office party or parading proudly in the vicinity of the ground – we show a united front that is so strong and powerful you feel it is truly unrivalled.

The excitement of reaching the last 16 in the South African World Cup is one thing, but can you imagine how euphoric the mood of the nation would be if the games were to be played on home soil? The loyalty and adoration of our supporters towards the national side is immense, but will undoubtedly be truly electrifying were the tournament to come back to England for the first time in more than half a century.

The bid to make England the host nation of the 2018 World Cup is hotting up, and as soon as the current tournament is over – regardless of what happens against Germany! – the emphasis will be firmly placed on securing our status as World Cup hosts for the first time since 1966. And, as I’m sure you all recall, the team seemed to do OK as hosts that year, didn’t we?

The spirit of ’66 is integral to every side that attempts to follow in their footsteps and achieve the ultimate prize. So who knows? Maybe, just maybe, in 8 years time when the final is being played at the new and improved Wembley – with the stunning Arch replacing the historic Twin Towers – England will be there, carrying the hopes of the nation with them as they line up against…Germany!?