IT’S been an incredibly long and winding road . . . an unpalatable, miserable wait.

But start spreading the news – the feel-good factor has finally returned to our national side.

England’s comfortable 2-0 victory over Sweden brings with it a first World Cup semi-final appearance since 1990. Twenty-eight years.

Most of the squad were still mere twinkles in their daddy’s you-know-whats.

Yet you sense they still fully understand and embrace the magnitude of their achievement.

Whatever happens from here on in, Russia 2018 will go down as an unquestionable triumph for an England team reinvented under the shrewd stewardship of Gareth Southgate.

This young group of whipper-snappers have played with renewed zest from the off.

The spark – so badly lacking in days gone by – reignited. The Iceland debacle at Euro 2016 is but a cold distant memory.

There is a certain freedom – not fear. The kind of passion fans so desperately demand is fizzing to the brim.

The squad as a whole has shown maturity beyond its years – players have gelled in a happy camp.

Southgate, so quietly spoken but a reported tyrant in the dressing room, must take great credit for that.

He’s after a pint of bitter tonight – good luck with that – supporters at home will raise a toast.

Southgate’s root-and-branch approach has changed perceptions in this World Cup.

He chose to stick with his young guns, showed belief in their ability before a ball was kicked and has backed them to the hilt thereafter.

Captain Harry Kane has taken many a headline and rightly so for obvious reasons, but there have been outstanding contributions right across the team.

Fresh-faced Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford – a rookie at international level – defied his critics with his penalty heroics against Colombia in the last 16 and produced a man-of-the-match performance today.

Leicester centre back Harry Maguire has shown an elegance on the ball not seen in the England back line for many a long year. His headed opening goal epitomised his desire and will to win.

John Stones alongside him has proved similarly silky – and has weighed in at the other end too.

Kieran Trippier – another international novice – has been arguably England’s best player at wing-back on the right. His brother, former Latics full-back Kelvin Lomax, taught him everything he knows (or maybe not quite).

Jordan Henderson – not everyone’s cup of tea – has kept things ticking over in the middle of the park. The shape and balance he brings to the team is integral to the system.

Dele Alli has come to the party. The list goes on.

Set-pieces have been inventive, the penalty curse lifted. Ghosts of the past exorcised. England have a certain swagger.

While critics may point to an “easy path” in this tournament – Tunisia, Panama, Colombia and Sweden are no international heavyweights – you can only beat who’s put in front of you, so the saying goes.

It might have been different if England had topped their group.

Making so many changes to the side against Belgium with a view to avoiding a potential quarter-final clash with Brazil was a masterstroke by Southgate.

At last the naivety which has hindered England’s progression so many times in the past had disappeared.

Some called it arrogance. It was clever . . . and brave.

While the likes of Brazil, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Argentina have fallen by the wayside, our adventure continues.

And so to the future. England have truly returned to the world stage and can now look forward to taking all this positivity into Wednesday’s semi-final . . . and then, who knows.

The Three Lions are roaring again, they can hold their heads high – and we should all take pride in that.