In my heart of hearts, deep in the recesses of my footballing brain, I know England have an incredibly slim chance of winning the World Cup.

There are teams with better players. There are teams with much better records. There are teams who play better as a unit.

But, much like at the start of every domestic season, I can’t help but approach each big tournament with that blind sense of optimism that always sweeps the country, and this year is no different.

It’s a clean slate, a chance to forget the disappointments of years gone by and hope, just for a while, that we can banish the ghosts of failure and – at long last – finally consign 1966 to history, where it should be.

Perhaps this time around, unlike many of my (probably more sensible) colleagues and friends, I am even more hopeful, due to the fact that England didn’t qualify for Euro 2008 and we’ve been starved of that big tournament summer for a full four years.

I can think how the rest of the home nations must feel.

To me, it doesn’t come much better – other than actually being there, of course – than spending a summer’s afternoon or evening in a packed pub in front of the big screen, England shirt on and pint in hand, living every pass, tackle, shot and (if we’re lucky) goal, along with the dozens of fans next to me and thousands in the stadiums of wherever the big game is being played.

I’ll never forget how the drinks flew when Beckham scored that penalty against Argentina in 2002, the tension and missed opportunities of the early-morning knockout against Brazil the same year or how I sat still in my chair in an emptying pub when we failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

And – before I was old enough for the pub – how I leapt from my sofa when Michael Owen ran through Argentina in 1998, the ecstasy of Shearer’s early header against the Germans in Euro 96, the agony of going out on penalties in the same game.

Because it’s these moments that make football great – and being an England fan great.

Win or lose, these are the moments that last in the memory forever and make the big tournaments so special.

There will almost certainly be a moment this time around that will define England’s tournament. Let’s hope it’s not a controversial sending off or penalty heartbreak, but a goal that leads us to glory.

Maybe this time we can go all the way, probably we won’t. But whatever happens I can guarantee one thing – the moments and the memories will be talked about for years to come and I for one can’t wait.