At the outset of the World Cup Gareth Southgate hoped his team would lift the spirits of a nation shivering in the winter gloom and beset by a cost of living crisis.
His battling Lions have cruised through to the quarter-finals. Tonight they could bring further joy with a victory against France.
After reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the finals of the Euros last year, everyone has high hopes.
But nobody is underestimating the French, who are graced with supreme talents.
But this an England squad also packed with skill, flair and resilience.
The country has been inspired by the leadership of Harry Kane, the creativity of Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, and the defensive nous of Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire and John Stones.
Every member of the team will do their duty, every player will fight like lions and all will strive to do their nation proud.
Warm lifeline
This weekend, temperatures could fall as low as -10C and large parts of Britain will be covered with ice and snow.
For millions of families this is the moment they were dreading. Rising fuel bills coupled with the cost of living crisis means that they cannot afford to heat their homes.
According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, some 2.5 million people will have to cut back on food and heating this winter.
In the absence of sufficient Government support, charities and faith organisations have had to step in.
There are now an estimated 5,000 warm welcome spaces across the UK. They are free and open to everybody.
The Mirror’s Christmas Appeal is raising funds to help these centres and your support has never been more needed or appreciated.
Over the moon
Photographer Rhiannon Adam has beaten more than one million applicants to snap up a trip around the moon.
Her pictures of the mission will be out of this world.
