That may sound like a stupid question. But think about it.

Personally (I’m 26) I’m glad England didn’t win the World Cup when I was younger (say 12, 16, 20). I don’t think I would have appreciated it properly, and it would have changed my perception of future tournaments; having already seen a victory, I wouldn’t anticipate them as much, have such a keen sense of hope, or that blind faith built on patriotism.

If I had seen us crowned World Champions I would have a completely different view of the England side – we see them as perennial under-achievers, the team that’s never quite there, sometimes going down like lions (Argentina ’98) and sometimes without a whimper (Brazil 2002). The team that’s always a false price at the bookies, backed to the hilt by jingoistic delusionists. Not the erstwhile World Champions. Of course we won it in ’66 – a fantastic achievement – but I only know of that second or third hand – it’s a story, not a real event I’ve been a part of.

We’re not a polished, successful, achieving footballing country – we are the nearly men, the what might have been or what could be’s. And personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Continued success is boring, it blunts the emotion and fosters complacency and arrogance. With England, there’s always that chance we might succeed, the possibility we might win it – and although we probably won’t, it’s far more exciting.

But how far can you extrapolate this? Yes, I am (kind of) ‘pleased’ we haven’t won it yet, as I have something immense to (hopefully) look forward to, and my excitement increases with every tournament. I’m pleased, as I said, we didn’t win it when I was 12, or 16, or 20. But what about when I was 24? Of course, at the time, I wanted England to win the World Cup more than anything – but now, because we didn’t, the next tournament is another notch higher on the scale of fervour, hope and desperation.

So if we don’t win in 2010 (which is highly likely) will I be relieved? Of course not. Once the tournament gets going, all I want is for England to win. But objectively, if we don’t win it in 2010, imagine how I’ll feel going into 2014…

This cannot last forever, though. You still need to be able to appreciate and celebrate the victory if and when it comes. I don’t want to be elderly and infirm, celebrating our winning goal by wetting myself. We need that balance of the passing of time, the build up of anticipation, and the ability to still enjoy it.

I think 50 is the time you start to lose your mojo; approaching retirement, old, grey and tired, you’re not going to paint the town red when some callow youth scores the winning goal. So I want it before then. But I want to build up the anticipation – so I don’t want to win it for a few years yet. I’d like to think I’ll still have a drink and party with the best (or at least rest) of them in my early forties.

When the World Cup 2026 comes round, I’ll be 43. That’s a good age. I’ll be weary of England’s continual failures but hope will spring eternal – and I’ll be positively frenetic after all the near and not so near misses from 2010 – 2022. Considering how excited I was last time (2006) I’ll be a shivering wreck by 2026.

That’s when I want us to win it. England for the World Cup 2026. I’ll be young enough to celebrate, but old enough for it to be supreme relief and ultimate joy.

And I’ll stand by that. Until 2010, when I’ll be cheering England at the top of my voice, from the bottom of my heart.