Hearing the ebullient BBC commentator Guy Mowbray compare Harry Kane to William Shakespeare after the England striker had put his side 2-1 ahead against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday night tipped the Scotland supporters who were watching over the edge.
Beating opponents who are in 46th place in the current FIFA World Rankings thanks to a goal four minutes from the end of regulation time in a World Cup last 32 match in Atlanta was hardly a feat that was on a par with Henry V slaying the French at the Battle of Agincourt.
But that did not prevent the overexcitable and quite frankly unbearable Mowbray from quoting a line from the historical play and gushing, “It’s the stuff of Shakespeare once again. Cry God for Harry, England and St George.”
Goodness only knows what unbridled triumphalism awaits us if Thomas Tuchel’s boys somehow do the business against Mexico in the Azteca in the early hours of Monday morning and progress to the quarter-finals. The deification of ‘Arry and Co is sure to continue unabated.
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England and their fans, though, should be wary of a phrase which is contained in one of Robert Burns’ greatest works as they prepare to go once more unto the breech. In his poem To A Mouse, our national bard wrote, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.”
Our dear near neighbours have, no doubt about it, some world-class talents in their squad. Jude Bellingham, Kane, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice would walk into most if not all of the starting line-ups at the World Cup. Former Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich manage Tuchel, too, is a savvy, experienced, inspirational coach.
Still, are they really capable of making it all the way through to the final and emulating their 1966 triumph, an achievement which has been mentioned once or twice by the media down south during these finals, this month? Knowledgeable observers will be surprised if they do due to the glaring deficiencies which have been overlooked by their cheerleaders.
Right-back is an area of major concern for Tuchel. First choice full-back Reece James is sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury and his deputy Jarell Quansah also missed the Congo encounter due to the twisted ankle he suffered in the group win over Panama.
With Tino Livramento being forced to withdraw before the tournament and Trent Alexander-Arnold not being selected, the German was forced to field Djed Spence, who currently has a broken jaw and is wearing a protective face covering, in the specialist position.
Centre-half Ezri Konza, central midfielder Elliot Anderson and winger Noni Madueke have all been blamed by supporters for the opening Congo goal in midweek, not Spence.
However, the time and space which Brian Cipenga was given in the opposition penalty area before he slotted beyond Jordan Pickford early in the first half suggested that the new look defence, the new look side even, was not functioning as it should. Superior rivals would have capitalised on the weakness to far greater effect.
Rice did well after dropping back to deputise for his countryman, who struggled throughout, during the closing stages. But the Arsenal man would be sorely missed in the middle of the park if he was to start there. It is little wonder than Tuchel is hopeful James and Quansah will be available for selection soon.
But how will his right-back fare against Julian Quinones in his team’s next outing? The Al-Qadsiah forward has been one of the co-hosts’ outstanding performers in recent weeks and took his personal tally for the finals to three with a strike in the 2-0 win over Ecuador on Monday. He will pose a far greater threat than Cipenga.
The Mexico match will be a significant step up in standard for England. Their rivals have played four, scored eight and conceded none in their matches to date. They have been based in their own country for the duration of the tournament and so altitude will not be an issue for them. The vast majority of the supporters in the 80,000-strong crowd which will cram into their iconic home will be roaring them on.
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If the visitors, who have only played well in fits and starts against Croatia, Ghana, Panama and the Democratic Republic of Congo, do manage to avenge the infamous World Cup quarter-final loss they suffered in the Azteca in 1986 they will build up further momentum and go into their last eight tie brimming with confidence.
Facing better quality sides which are more prepared to attack – they struggled to break down the low blocks of Ghana and Panama due to their lack of creativity out wide – in the latter rounds may well prove to be to their liking and play into their hands a little.
However, England still have some way to go to reach the levels which have been hit by favourites France, defending champions Argentina, five-time winners Brazil and former victors Spain this summer. Mexico and the United States have looked far more impressive. Their passing has lacked penetration and they have relied on moments of magic from Bellingham and Kane to unlock packed rearguards.
But it is in defence where they have looked most vulnerable. They appear hopelessly ill-equipped to deal with the pace and technical ability of the likes of Matheus Cunha, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Mikel Oyarzabal and Vinicius Jnr.
As he spoke to his friend Brutus in the opening act of Julius Caesar, the nobleman Cassius proclaimed, ‘The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” Ultimately, England’s own failings could result in this World Cup following an all-too-familiar script and ending up in another tragedy.
