The hopes are that this time the journey will be a longer one than the 1998 stumble at the first knockout stage after a benign 2018 draw sparked more reminiscence than resentment.

Waiting till June 18 for their opening game makes England one of the late starters, playing even further into FA hands by offering a longer-than-expected break after the rigours of the Premier League.

And though England will meet Tunisia on the banks of the Volga rather than the south coast of France, it is not just geographically that the road looks to be a long and winding one.

“Tunisia takes me back to Marseille, one of the best days of my life, playing my first game in the World Cup finals for England, an incredible atmosphere down there,” said Southgate. “I just remember the colour of it, the Beatles music playing before the game. It was a brilliant day. I remember sitting with Teddy Sheringham in doping control for an hour and a half afterwards.

“A brilliant occasion, so to be leading the country out into that same occasion, the first game of the World Cup, I’m hugely proud.”

Something similar to that 2-0 win for the Three Lions – Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes scoring the England goals that day – will be expected this time around.

Moreover, for all the inevitable talk yesterday about there being no easy games in international football, no excuses will be tolerated for anything other than the anticipated victory over World Cup new boys Panama. Hopefully, Southgate’s diligent application and his young players’ more fearless attitude will prevent any potential mishap.

By contrast, Belgium could not be more familiar… all those Premier League players, a former Premier League manager – indeed Southgate and Roberto Martinez even shared the same ITV pundits’ studio during the 2012 European Championships.

And it may not even matter anyway. Two wins out of two would make group qualification secure and with Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan are in Group H, England will fancy their chances finishing in first or second spot against any of those crossover opponents.

Indeed, that clash against Belgium’s own Golden Generation could actually be helpful – a relatively meaningless encounter in which to hone Southgate’s developing team with a stern test before the serious business of a quarter-final and, sad to report, probably either Germany or Brazil.

That sort of dreaming is precisely the sort of thing that Southgate does not want England fans to start doing.

“I go back to the last two tournaments really,” he said. “We have to be focused, to make sure nothing is taken for granted. But we also have to handle the expectation of being one of the favourite teams in the group. For us as a team, when you’re involved with England, that’s the mentality you’ve got to have.

“What I’m mindful of is that we have a team I’m excited about but who don’t have the trophies and medals on the table, the number of caps which winners and successful teams in past tournaments have had. So there’s an unknown of what we’re going to get but equally I’m excited about them.

“I believe in them and we’re really looking forward to the World Cup.”

Certainly the mood was a far cry from four years ago when former FA chairman Greg Dyke made a cut-throat gesture when England were drawn with Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

This time his successor Greg Clarke was unmoved on one side of Southgate and chief executive Martin Glenn also did his best to restrain any expression, while Southgate studiously filled in the World Cup chart he had been handed on his way into the auditorium along with the other guests by FIFA.

“I nearly sat on the chairman’s hands there,” said Southgate, smiling. “The great thing is when you are in the room everything comes alive, you are reminded how important first and foremost it is to be in it, to be mixing with all the coaches, to recognise the worldwide attention, and the experience for all of us is hugely important.

“It really takes you back to the pureness of football, the excitement everyone at home will be starting to feel of knowing what the games are going to be and where, it really took me back to when I was a kid filling in the games, and that genuine excitement of being involved in a World Cup.”