Danny Welbeck's sublime winner ruined any chance fans had of a night of crushing disappointment, bitterness and festering resentment.
Yet it could all have been so different. England had started well yet fell apart early in the second half thanks to some hapless but comforting defending. With the Swedes leading 2-1 on the hour, many had settled into a familiar 'told you so' mode, rolling their eyes and seeking scapegoats.
Cheeks across the land we're being puffed out in exasperation, safe in the knowledge that the England team had let them down again. But then it all went horribly right. Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson did well to get out of the way of Theo Walcott's shot for England's equaliser before Welbeck's back heel sent England into despair.
The thrilling come-from-behind win left the country baffled, confused and hurt.
'Why us?' fans asked themselves.
Forced to celebrate, supporters filed sullenly to the bars and consoled themselves with the brew of their choice, feeling let down, deflated and most of all, let down.
"Just when we thought we could count on them, they go and do this," wrote Disgusted of Manchester. "This country. We're even bad at being rubbish."
England have a chance to redeem themselves in the final group game against co-hosts Ukraine. A flat performance with some comedy defending and a sending off would send the players home and the fans into raptures of gloom and recrimination.
England manager Roy Hodgson will pick a side that will be widely derided but still worryingly capable of victory. That's the danger and that's why we're demanding he be sacked before, if not during, the Ukraine match before any further damage is done to the country's reputation for spectacular failure.
Copyright : Comedy Central UK