England supporters should be thrilled with the way their World Cup is going so far.
The Three Lions topped their group for the first time since 2006, were unbeaten and highlighted their potent attacking prowess by scoring nine goals, level with Spain as the best record of any team at this World Cup.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, it's England we're talking about here, and England fans are never happy.
Perhaps they have reason to fear Senegal, their opponent in the last 16, who are a genuine threat even without their best player, Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mané.
It's not necessarily for on-pitch reasons that England fans are concerned though — that would be far too rational.
You see, England have a curse hanging over them — and it's primed to strike on Monday morning (AEDT) at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar.
England's underwhelming World Cup record
Everyone knows England's record at World Cups and European Championships is underwhelming — earning the team an the unwelcome tag of chokers that has been slapped onto the bevy of stars throughout the modern, post-Premier League era.
Things have been looking up though.
A semifinal appearance in Russia helped Gareth Southgate's England start to shrug off its underachievers tag, followed up by their European Championships performance last year, when they reached the final against Italy only to lose on penalties.
There have though, been ebbs and flows to England's successes and failures at World Cups since the glory of Italia 90, the last World Cup England qualified for before the Premier League revolution in 1992.
England have been knocked out at the quarterfinal stage twice, the round of 16 twice and in the group stages once, aside from that fourth-place finish in 2018.
There is though, a regular pattern across those tournaments — and incredibly, it's all related to the broadcaster.
The ITV curse
Traditionally, the TV coverage of England's matches at major tournaments are split between the BBC and commercial station, ITV.
Since 1998, the split has been remarkably even over those 24 years of often painful and angst-ridden viewing: 16 matches on the BBC, 15 on ITV — with both broadcasters showing five games each in the knockout phase of those tournaments.
Surely it makes no difference whatsoever what channel a match being played overseas is shown back home though, right?
Wrong.
When an England World Cup match is shown on the BBC, England has a remarkable 75 per cent winning record.
On ITV that falls to just 13.33 per cent.
England has won just two games on ITV at World Cups since 1998 — and one of those was on penalties.
The trend is not just at the World Cup, either.
At the European Championships, the win rate on the BBC is 63.64 per cent compared to 38.46 per cent on ITV.
Overall, at major championships since 1998, England has a winning rate of 70.37 per cent on the BBC compared to just 25 per cent on ITV.
In a microcosm, that trend as been replicated in Qatar.
England's two victories over Saudi Arabia (6-2) and Wales (3-0) were shown on the BBC, while the dour 0-0 draw with an impressive young USA team was on ITV.
So, what channel is England's last 16 tie against Senegal on?
You've guessed it. ITV.
So, should we celebrate Senegal's progression now or wait til Monday?
Look, we all know it's ludicrous to suggest that a match being on any specific broadcaster makes any difference whatsoever to those on the pitch.
Curses simply aren't real.
The reason England can't win a major tournament is not down to who is commentating to people half a world away, nor is it dependant on which former pros are talking up, or down, England's chances at half time.
The players can't possibly even be aware of it.
And yet, there is clearly a statistical enigma that shows England's success rate is directly tied to whether viewers at home tune their dials to the BBC or ITV.
And even if the players can't be aware of it, you bet everyone else is.
Legendary England striker and host of the BBC's football coverage Gary Lineker even alluded to it after England's emphatic last group-stage victory over Wales.
"England finish top and will take on Senegal at 7pm on Sunday, that's live on … ITV … oh well."
So, does England have a chance?
Of course they do.
Aside from the fact that it can't possibly matter what TV channel shows the match, England are in decent form, with a young attacking side capable of blowing away opposition defences.
Southgate has also proven his team are a good tournament team, with a squad overflowing with exciting attacking players like Jude Bellingham, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane and Phil Foden among others — even if they are a little light and vulnerable at the back.
Even looking at FIFA's spurious world rankings, England are fifth, while reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal are 18th.
As previously mentioned, Senegal are without Mané and have been beaten already at this tournament by The Netherlands.
Skipper Kalidou Koulibaly, match winner against Ecuador, will need to be at the top of his game in defence, especially with Édouard Mendy in suspect form between the sticks and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye suspended.
And it's not like England haven't won on ITV recently.
That record is terrible, by the way. England have only twice won shootouts from nine attempts at the World Cup and European Championships — the lowest ratio of any European team that have been involved in three or more shootouts.
That the most recent shootout triumph came on ITV should be cause for celebration.
In a remarkable display of comedic timing, ITV have decided to show an episode of long-running bloopers show, It'll be Alright on the Night, immediately after their coverage of the last 16 match.
The more superstitious England fans will be praying to whatever footballing deity that it will be.
But, just in case, it might not be a bad idea to dig those lucky socks out the drawer.
