Almost. England were just 22 minutes away from a first World Cup final since 1966, and a first ever on foreign soil, but ended the night, like so many before, tearful and disappointed.

Yet something feels palpably different this time.

Recent tournaments have been opportunities missed, whereas this was an opportunity seized; an opportunity to unite a country, renew pride in the shirt, to thrill and entertain and, briefly, to dream. The World Cup trophy did not come home this summer, but football did – and it may not be long before silverware finally follows, too.

Usually, a jaded nation would already be several hours deep into the customary inquest that has immediately followed previous England exits, engulfed in a sense of anger, embarrassment and betrayal.

But the past month has provided answers, not questions; togetherness, not resentment. There are no scapegoats or villains. This England team now has a clear footballing philosophy, an identity and a manager worth sticking by; a team that was still being cheered and applauded hours after the final whistle in Moscow.

Goals from Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic saw Croatia come from behind in Moscow (Getty)
England’s players were devastated afterwards, but were sung off the pitch by fans (Getty)

‘It’s a fantastic feeling to be able to give that joy to the fans and bring the country together as well,’ said a tearful Eric Dier to ITV after Croatia’s extra-time victory.

‘The country is going through such a difficult period right now, it gave the country something to enjoy, something to cheer about. It’s difficult to say not being there but I feel like it brought the country together again and it’s fantastic to be a part of something that’s done that. I was in France two years ago, we left on completely different circumstances. This time, the fans are still out there now.’

For so long there has been a disconnect between England’s players and their fans – something widened by both unfairly negative narratives surrounding players like Raheem Sterling as well as the same domestic club rivalries that created cliques within previous squads – while matches were an obligation rather than something to savour.

The shattering defeat to Iceland, failing to escape a group topped by Costa Rica, Wayne Rooney’s infamous rant down the camera in Cape Town. Tournaments broke hearts and, often, players.

What a difference two years makes: England were humbled by Iceland in Nice (Getty)
After drawing against Algeria, Rooney yelled: ‘Nice to see your own fans booing you!’ (Getty)

But this World Cup has reminded us that the players celebrating on the pitch are representative of those being dowsed in beer every time a goal is scored off it. The players in this squad have had to fight to reach this level, cutting their teeth on loan everywhere from Brighton to Birmingham, Carlisle to Cambridge. The back three all hail from Yorkshire, while the front two are from Wembley and Walthamstow. There’s players of Ghanaian, Jamaican, Guyanese and Irish descent, while Dier himself grew up in Lisbon.

‘We are a team with our diversity and youth that represents modern England,’ said Gareth Southgate before the tournament. ‘We are the reflection of a new identity and we hope that people connect with us.’

And connect they have. Regardless of the gut-punching defeat to Croatia, not since 1996 has there been such affection towards a national team who have provided rare moments to cherish during a period of continued political and economic uncertainly.

Jose Mourinho on England's World Cup campaign

‘England, of course, they have a reason to cry. But they have also a reason to be optimistic. The team improved a lot in relation to previous appearances, and the squad is young – the majority of the players they can play the next World Cup. I would say Ashley Young, Jamie Vardy, no, but the others they will be at the next World Cup with more experience at club level. Gareth Southgate, Steve Holland, if I was the FA, no doubts that I would keep them in the job and I will give them the chance to take the team to the next Euros and eventually to the next World Cup. So England has a reason to cry, because they were so, so close to doing it, but I think they also have reason to be optimistic. The players and the squad and everybody involved has a reason to come back home with the pride that they gave everything and they made the country, not fully happy, but proud.’ (Russia Today)

A young squad – the youngest of the 32 teams that travelled to Russia – have defied all expectations: they recorded a biggest ever win at a World Cup as they swatted aside Panama, a first knockout win since 2006, a first-ever penalty shootout win at a World Cup and a first semi-final appearance in 28 long years. They could yet claim third spot in Saturday’s play-off, while Harry Kane can become just the second Englishman to win the Golden Boot.

Previous tournaments have emphasised the enormous gulf between England and the rest of the world, but this time the prize felt just marginally out of reach. At last they feel as though they could be contenders in the future, that this is a step towards something bigger. Think back to the young German side that finished third in South Africa, and then won the competition four years later. Or France now, who will have a quarter-final appearance four years ago and European final two years ago to thank for reaching this point.

How England could line up at Qatar 2022…

Much of the core of England’s team will still be under the age of 30 at the next World Cup

England have created something tangible to build on. No root-and-branch review, no effigies hanging outside London pubs. Every two years they’ve had to rip it up and start again, but now there is a platform, an environment in which players can grow.

Many of the squad who have come so close in Russia will be older and wiser in four years’ time, Croatia’s team was filled with serial title winners from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, while there is a horde of youngsters waiting to make the leap – the Three Lions have made at least the semi-finals at the last tournaments at every age group from Under-17 to Under-21. The senior team now offers stability and structure for the next generation to integrate into.

Of course, making sure that young blood fulfils their potential will be difficult when just a third of Premier League players are English, but this new breed are ready to take matters into their own hands.

English 18-year-old Jadon Sancho notably moved to Borussia Dortmund last year where he was immediately handed the No.7 shirt, while already this summer highly rated duo Jonathan Panzo and Keanan Bennetts have swapped Chelsea and Spurs for Monaco and Gladbach respectively.

Southgate, who has shown little regard for reputations, will be watching them all closely.

The next generation: England won the Under-17 World Cup last summer (Getty)
This generation: They may not have won the World Cup, but England ended a few hoodoos (Getty)

Admittedly, England showed they still have room for improvement. They were too reliant on set-pieces and regularly wasted attacking moves in the final third with an overhit pass, a bad run or a poor shot.

A midfield that often seemed to only consist of Jordan Henderson manfully putting out fires offered little control and creativity and was blown away from the second half onwards against Croatia and their brilliant playmaker Luka Modric. Southgate did not find a way to correct that, but he – like the team – will learn and grow.

Nevertheless, this has been a remarkable month. Just two years ago, England were knocked out of the Euros by a country with a lower population than Leeds, with a dentist for a manager and right-back who works in a salt-packing factory in Reykjavik.

From that low, that all-time low, England have been patched back together. A nation dared to dream again, and what happened in 120 minutes against Croatia was less important than what has happened in the weeks that preceded it.

England have got their national team back, and this is just the beginning.