England captain Harry Kane puts his hands together, perhaps seeking help from a higher power ahead of tonight's showdown against Senegal.
Kane looked like he offered up a prayer as the squad were put through their paces at a training session at a Qatari sports complex yesterday.
Today the Three Lions will be roared on by at least 8,000 fans in the stadium and millions more at home as they take on the African Cup of Nations holders for the first time ever.
Thousands more tickets have been released for the match in the past 48 hours, leading to an online frenzy.
Expats in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have snapped up many.
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England’s support in Doha is likely to outnumber the Senegalese fanbase by at least 10 to one.
At stake is a last eight place against either France or Poland. And many England fans are confident about the side’s chances.
Martin Thompson, 57, a quantity surveyor from Solihull, West Mids, said: “There’s a growing feeling among the fans here that we can go all the way.
“We can clearly beat Senegal and then we’re into the final eight and who knows what will happen. We were semi-finalists in Russia, losing finalists at the Euros last year. We can go one better. Football really might be coming home.”
Superfans Brian Geddis, 63, and Gary Bown, 62, are on the QEII ship for a month in Dubai and staying until the final.
Army veteran Brian, of Stafford, said: “We were called Dad’s Army in Russia. We met there and made the decision to come here.”
Many of the squad have their wives, girlfriends and children staying near the team HQ in Al Wakra.
Tonight some of the England players received heartwarming good luck messages from their kids on FaceTime.
The families have made several morale-boosting visits to the hotel near Doha, dads have read their kids bedtime stories on virtual calls.
England manager Gareth Southgate allowing players to see their partners ahead of the match is in contrast to some other previous managers.
Fabio Capello, manager from 2007-12, insisted England’s players were locked away in their hotel complex.
Meanwhile Southgate said he really wanted to “avoid” a penalty shootout. But he said: “I believe we are physically and mentally ready. We will be considered the favourites and Senegal the underdogs.”
“We have always wanted to bring the country on a journey with us and to create nights that people remember for ever. I think we have had a few of those over the last few years.
“I think we have been positive in the way we have approached the tournament. We knew that there were different types of obstacles ahead of us.
“So far we have come through all of these challenges – not perfectly – but as well as anybody else, that’s for sure.”
