On the positive side, a great deal of good has been done.

For the first time in years and years, the concerted effort from David Beckham, Prince William, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and even Sir Keith Mills (of Air Miles and Nectar fame, not to mention the Olympics), shows that England is pulling together, standing shoulder to shoulder, singing from the same hymn sheet.

The bid was not helped, it has to be said, by the media including the Sunday Times and BBC’s Panorama pointing out that the FIFA committee was corrupt and open to bribes, but we all support a free press don’t we?

England approached the FIFA bid as a country united, with one objective and solid principles. We might have failed in the bid, but it did us all good to watch our representatives doing such a brilliant job of putting forward the case for the country enthusiastically behind good causes and the common good despite our economic circumstances.

Most of us are far too young to remember Dunkirk spirit, but to live in a country where the best is expected of us, and the very best given definitely raises the spirits.

So well done to the England bid team, and don’t feel too despondent. Russia and Qatar were chosen because they will take football to new regions, and further the reach of the game.

The country has all this to come - the London Olympics in 2012, Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow, Rugby World Cup 2015, Cricket World Cup 2019. Not to mention the Royal Wedding next year.

There are plenty of reasons to feel loyal and proud to be British (or English if you are going to quibble about where the bid came from), and today was just one of them.