England’s players have guaranteed they will return from the World Cup as heroes. Now they can dream of a grander ambition. Can they come home as legends?

At the start of this tournament expectations were modest. What did England fans really want from this summer? For the majority, it is about being able to go to the pub with mates, settle in front of those giant screens, feel emotionally involved and proud of your team.

That is what we have craved watching international football. This is what England fans have been denied for too long. So often it has fallen flat.

That is why the memories created in this tournament are so precious. They have galvanised the country. This generation of players can always look upon getting this far with immense pride. Just as we nostalgically look back at Gazza and those Gary Lineker goals in Italia ’90, we will remember Russia 2018 for the personalities that emerged in Gareth Southgate’s side.

We will remember it for Harry Kane’s goals and his star quality as captain. We will forever associate this competition with Harry Maguire, not just for that towering header to put England ahead against Sweden, but his dominant defensive play.

We will remember it for Kieran Trippier – a player well known in the Premier League, but sure to have won the attention of the rest of the world as the tournament’s most impressive performing full-back. And we will recall it for Jordan Pickford, who has not had much to do because of the quality of the defenders, but has done everything asked impressively, making himself a national idol in the process.

What I most like about Southgate’s team is how they have ensured all levels of English football have a stake in their success. Look at the background of the starting XI and see how many had loan spells at Championship, or even non-league clubs. They all had to graft their way to this level. It may not be coincidental.

The back three in Southgate’s side made their professional debut playing for Northampton Town (Kyle Walker), Sheffield United (Maguire) and Barnsley (John Stones).

Trippier also played on loan at Barnsley, Jordan Henderson at Coventry City and Kane at Leyton Orient.

Their development – the nature of their journeys – will inspire every English-born footballer.

After so much criticism of our academy system following recent tournaments, there should be acclaim now. It must also ensure more young players follow the lead and get out on loan, regardless of the division, to give themselves a chance longer-term. These players are showing the way.

READ MORE: Maguire: It's coming home for England...hopefully

Every English footballer has been given a fillip. I am certain there will be an extra bounce in the step of all of them returning to pre-season at the moment. Best of all, it can get better.

I was not surprised England defeated Sweden. They possess superior players and were favourites to do so. What was surprising and reassuring – in keeping with the whole tournament – is how comfortably they did it, and how little they were affected by the pressure of the occasion. It is not easy to be expected to win. Countless England sides have been unable to cope.

It is also extremely difficult to beat Sweden, as England know from experience and Holland and Italy discovered in the qualifying campaign. This was a tough game. I expected it to be tighter.

It may sound like an obvious statement, but this truly was an exceptional result. It is rare for any side to win a World Cup quarter-final with such control and this is certainly new territory for England.

Naturally, the challenge becomes even greater from here. The single biggest difference from now is England will not be favourites. They must prepare for the possibility of playing sides who are as good as or better on the ball, and who will not let England dominate possession.

A defence performing so admirably is yet to be fully tested against world-class opposition. That is coming.

Whatever happens from here, England will always look fondly at the Russia World Cup. History tells us the reputation of this team is secure.

Before this tournament, a documentary was broadcast about Italia ’90. It has always felt bittersweet looking back to that year as it was, ultimately, a story of glorious failure. Our despair for most of the years since is the glorious element of failure has disappeared.

I was only 12 during the 1990 World Cup, but I remember the buzz around the country – even after the loss to West Germany – and I know how it changed English football for the better. It made the game fashionable after the problems throughout the 1980s.

England became more attractive for overseas stars and the emergence of the Premier League made the game family friendly. You could trace much of that to the feel-good factor created after that World Cup, yet the national team failed to build on it.

For 28 years we have waited for something like this. Even when taking into account the semi-final appearance at Euro ’96, there has been nothing comparable.

Southgate’s team have achieved the improbable by justifying comparisons with 1990. They can now think of something even more extraordinary – going further and inviting nostalgia about 1966.