Leading article: Lie back and don't think of England

Deep breaths everyone. Higher state of inner peace achievable this weekend. England are through to the next stage.

Tuesday's game against Sweden may be diverting intellectually as part of a complex Sudoku of permutations that could mean both teams have a theoretical interest in losing. But let people who can do three-dimensional binary logic in their heads worry about that.

This could be the only weekend for the next three weeks to be free of high-tension football. From next weekend the threat of the psychological torture of the penalty shoot-out will lurk beneath the billiard-green smooth surface.

For now, though, even the England fans in Germany are behaving themselves. So take time out to enjoy Father's Day. The sun is shining. All is provisionally well with the world. If you must stay indoors, curtains drawn against reflections on the television screen, there is always Japan v Croatia.

But relax. Don't (over) do it.

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