The celebrations were under way loud and early at The Terrace on Saturday evening.
They were much louder a lot later on after Jude Bellingham rescued England against Norway.
But there were some nervous times in between.
The Three Lions were a bit lucky and rather unconvincing as they won 2-1 after extra-time in their World Cup quarter-final.
But their performance was packed with effort, desire and determination and that was what mattered as fans across the country celebrated.
Speaking outside the sports bar built by Albion opposite The Amex, England fan Kyle Barter said: “It wasn’t the best we have played by a long shot.
“Not quite as good as the Mexico and Croatia games.
“But the spirit and the fight are there, which I think are essential.
“I think that takes us to the next level.
“If we can carry that fight and that will into the next round, all of a sudden anything is possible.”
And that summed it up. If this was England’s last win at the 2026 World Cup, at least a lot of people made the very best of it.
A warm evening, slightly cooled by the customary Falmer breeze with which we are all familiar, was full of excitement and expectation ahead of England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway.
Standards including Football's Coming Home were belted out with the help of a live band.
The scene was no doubt the same at pubs, clubs and venues across the country.
Spirits and confidence high. Fans in good voice and great mood.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Pre-match excitement is fine and football is there to be enjoyed. And it would have been the same in Norway.
But you felt at the time that “all” England needed to do now was to win the game.
And that proved to be the really hard bit.
With the exception of the eventual 2am kick-off against Mexico, The Terrace has offered a great option for those who wish to watch England with others.
This was easily the busiest, loudest and liveliest it had been and a live band did a good job in revving up the atmosphere.
The mood switched to hush and concern once Norway went ahead and almost added a second goal.
But it changed again with Bellingham’s equaliser (just a little like a Pascal Gross finish against Manchester United a few years ago) and even more so, but just fleetingly, with Harry Kane’s little chip when he was narrowly offside.
One pleasing aspect of watching games at The Terrace is that beer-throwing is not allowed.
A few people forgot or ignored that as Bellingham scored and, once the noise had subsided a little, the DJ warned them: “Don’t throw your drinks.”
Cut to images on the big screens of Norway boss Stale Solbakken hurling his bottle of water to the ground.
Half-time was party time. But the first part of the second half was a tough and quiet watch, except for cheers for a helpful VAR verdict and boos when FIFA boss Gianni Infantino was shown.
But then delirium as Bellingham pounced for his second and again when England were awarded a penalty which was cancelled after a VAR review.
Dan Burn was cheered on the pitch by fans at his old club. And then came the full-time celebration.
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England will need to improve. And what will that lead to? We have seen tournaments in the past when their best performance has been rewarded by cruel defeat.
But they are alive and kicking and you have to enjoy the wins. Those who packed into The Terrace - and other venues - did exactly that as Saturday moved into Sunday.
It was quite a night
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