The wait is over for my home nation. Perennially under achievers since their only triumph in 1966, optimism is high as ever. Is football finally coming home?

England

As I live in England I thought I would feature some places lesser known outside the UK.

Scafell Pike is England’s highest peak at 978m above sea-level, which I ascended in 2010 with my work colleagues.

It is part of the UK’s ‘3 Peaks’ that includes Ben Nevis in Scotland and Snowdon in Wales.

Croatia

Dubrovnik was my first destination in Croatia in 2007. We took a bus from neighbouring Montenegro along the sparkling Dalmatian Coast to the ‘Jewel of the Adriatic’.

The hype is all true. A gem of a city that has been lovingly restored since the damage caused by Serb forces during the Yugoslav War in the ‘90s.

An undoubted highlight is to walk around the walls of the coastal city. The views are stupendous across the terracotta rooftops and out to sea.

An early start is a must though. Once the cruise ships disembark the compact city becomes a heaving mass of people.

We stayed in the beach area of Lapad – a welcome retreat when the crowds arrive!

If you go, make sure you also take in Kotor, situated at the head of a fjord in nearby Montenegro.

Score prediction – England 2 Croatia 1