MIGHT as well get used to it. After Wednesday night's events, every kick, twinge, tackle and whinge of this Premier League season will have to be defined in terms of what it means to England's World Cup hopes.
The Premier League's seemingly infinite supply of self-regard will have, temporarily, to give way to a nation's traditional fervour in a World Cup year.
No matter that England's Big Four are managed by a Scot, a Frenchman, a Spaniard and an Itali
an (if we extended the respect towards a Big Five we might have to include a Welshman in that list, so let's hold off for a while). These managers' interests are not necessarily inimical to England's cause (although it usually seemed that way when Alex Ferguson had to deal with Sven-Goran Eriksson), but it is going to take Fabio Capello's legendary easy-going charm and approachability to keep them on board.
One manager Capello has already had a difference of opinion with is, ironically, one of the Premier League's token English bosses. Tottenham host Manchester United this afternoon, with table-topping Harry Redknapp basking in the knowledge that his group of English players is just as important to Capello's squad as those of the champions.
Indeed, if it came to a head-to-head between the two crocked centre-backs, and Capello could pick just one of them to make the squad for South Africa, it wouldn't be entirely surprising if he preferred Ledley King to Rio Ferdinand. King, or, more specifically King's health, was the cause of Capello's contretemps with Redknapp.
Capello never strikes you as the grateful type, but he owes Redknapp a few thanks for restoring Aaron Lennon's form and confidence after the player had threatened to disappear off the radar after his initial breakthrough at the last World Cup. Lennon destroyed Croatia in the first 20 minutes on Wednesday, proving as effective an attacking option as Theo Walcott had been in the reverse fixture in Zagreb.
Capello might also like to acknowledge Redknapp's influence on Jermain Defoe. If Redknapp hadn't turned Defoe into a fleet goal-machine, Capello wouldn't be able to enjoy the substantial satisfaction of preferring that unselfish old warhorse Emile Heskey for the big games. "Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen" probably sounds better in Italian, but certainly seems to be Capello's watchphrase.
Manchester United's England contingent is not quite as substantial as in the past. Wayne Rooney may be indispensable, Ferdinand is no longer so, although his recent lapses against the Netherlands were more typical of some erratic club form than his international displays.
Other United players will be lucky to be taken as ballast in Capello's squad. The goalkeeper Ben Foster has to earn Ferguson's nod before he can think about Capello's. Gary Neville's age has caught up with him mercilessly, but Wes Brown is a handily versatile defensive standby. Owen Hargreaves, the fulcrum of Eriksson's England, will need an impressive recovery and comeback to feature in Capello's plans. Michael Carrick, excellent last season, has lost form and favour at United this season, and hasn't impressed for England.
That leaves one piquant name in the Manchester United ranks. Michael Owen has more international goals than any other Englishman still playing, and, at 30, is hardly past it. Capello, playing hard to get, has made it clear that if he wants a diminutive forward with a turn of pace he prefers Defoe (in that Defoe still has a turn of pace). Owen hasn't exactly lit up a lacklustre United side this season, but there has been enough evidence of his positional sense and intelligent running to remind us that he is still international class.
He didn't let England down in 1998 and 2002, and his injury in 2006 was a key contributing factor to England's failure.
Capello enjoys being unpredictable, but that shouldn't prevent him showing up at White Hart Lane today to take a proprietary interest in the performances of some of his boys.
Ferguson and Redknapp will want to get on with the serious business, respectively, of getting back on top of the table, or contriving to stay there.
For the players, though, there will be an extra frisson. Lennon and Rooney can bask in the knowledge of being the chosen ones. Others will have an extra level of motivation.
Certainly, the intense nine months of Owen-watch begin here.
