A World Cup Dividend?

Will England’s successful World Cup have an effect on the game across the country?

Another group stage exit, a humbling by Tunisia or Panama and this could conceivably have been the end of the national team as a viable institution.

The Football Association would have faced the mammoth task of trying to sell Wembley matches against the USA, Spain and Croatia before the end of 2018 and not even the new Nations League format would have been of much assistance had supporters finally declared they had had enough.

Broadcast deals for the national team would also have been a tough sell going forward, hastening the need (or desire) for the FA to complete the sale of Wembley Stadium.

That deal may still be on the cards, although a successful World Cup will increase opposition to it, but the huge achievement of Gareth Southgate and his players has been to make playing for England look both important and enjoyable at a time when the domestic game looked to be readying itself to assume complete control.

A positive effect for clubs outside the EFL and the much talked about grassroots is always hard to predict but a stronger, more confident FA (having been vindicated in their reform of the national team set-up at all levels and of their choice of Southgate as manager however much they may have been left with little option) can still do a lot of good for the game.

One example of this is in the increased payments that are on offer this season to clubs participating in the FA Cup which means that even teams knocked out at the extra preliminary round stage, which takes place over the weekend of 11 August, will receive £750.

You also only need to look at the social media pages of Non-League clubs over the past four weeks to see how much England's progress was enjoyed and also how much of an unexpected bonus it brought to bars and social clubs at their grounds as training times were altered and players and supporters alike gathered to watch the various games.