Legendary Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi once described football as la cosa più importante delle cose meno importanti - the most important of the least important things. And never did the game itself feel less important than in those terrible minutes Christian Eriksen lay prone on the turf of Parken Stadium in Copenhagen yesterday evening.

For moments that seemed to stretch into hours, as the world watched helplessly as medics fought to save the Danish playmaker’s life, the football - this simple game we have elevated to status of worldwide obsession - was entirely secondary.

And then, incredibly, unexpectedly, the players returned to the field and completed the fixture, their distress tempered, surely only slightly, by the news relayed from hospital that the former Tottenham Hotspur star was awake and stable and wished them to continue.

Somehow, because we will it to, the game goes on. And as England began their campaign against Croatia this afternoon, in a tournament delayed a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, it felt as if the very act of gathering together to share in the moment is a gesture of defiance. A statement that though many things in life are infinitely more important, some things simply matter too much to be pushed aside. Normal has a way of fighting back.

Like so many fans across the country flocking to bars and back gardens (and perhaps the odd rule-of-six-busting living room), supporters assembled in the bright summer sunshine this afternoon at the Folkestone Harbour Arm to watch the Three Lions in action on the big screen towering above the quayside.

I watched the majority of England’s 2018 World Cup adventure with friends and many hundreds of others at the Arm. A coveted spot for matches at the screen by the sea proving to be the hottest ticket in town, snapped up within minutes of going on offer online.

And wasn’t it hot that summer three years ago? With temperatures pushing on towards 30C during July, the gathered fans sweltered in their replica shirts, with a few cases of sunburn and many, many more pints of cold beer sunk as we revelled in every moment of that somewhat unexpected run to the semi-finals and defeat by today's opponents.

Now it all seems like a vision from a different age. Crowds of strangers packed together, standing room only, brushing shoulders in the queue for a craft ale or some fried delight from one of the many food stalls? How we took for granted such joyous communal moments.

Today we got our first taste of following the national side at an international tournament staged in the age of social distancing.

Tickets for the screenings at the harbour are, if anything, an even more privileged prize than they were three years ago.

Pandemic rules mean the capacity of the big screen venue is tightly restricted, with tables of four to six people needing to be pre-booked for £10 a head.

Having secured access to the sold-out screening, I was curious to see whether the necessary Covid regulations would put a dampener on the atmosphere, or whether the simple joy of football in the sunshine would prove that some things do remain immune to this terrible virus.

Arriving at the Goods Yard on the Harbour Arm just less than an hour before kick-off, there was already a great buzz as fans enjoyed pre-match beers under gorgeous blue skies.

New arrivals were shown to their tables, as servers from the food huts lining the venue hurried back and forth busily, ferrying people's orders to their seats.

With the teams announced moments earlier, I spoke to England fan Cade Mortimer about his thoughts ahead of the opening match in Group D.

Explaining that he believed home advantage at Wembley could be crucial, the 28-year-old said: "Before I saw the teams I fancied England today, but looking at the line-up I'm a bit tentative.

"I think that it might be a draw now, I'm disappointed with the team selection, especially Phillips and the fact we are playing Trippier at left back, when we've got Chilwell who's won the European Cup and Luke Shaw who has had a great season.

"England have got enough quality in the side, but yeah, I don't know. It's a bit of a disappointment."

As kick-off approached the socially-distanced tables continued to fill up, with organisers saying they expected around 360 people for the match.

A huge cheer went up as the BBC coverage on the big screen showed the England team emerge from the tunnel at the national stadium, and a short while later fans joined in a lusty rendition of the national anthem.

With the pre-match formalities almost complete it was just left for the England players to take the knee, making clear their stance against racism and the terrible abuse so many of the squad suffer week in and week out on social media.

The solidarity of support shown for the stricken Eriksen yesterday was in stark contrast to the often rancorous national debate over the players' ongoing stance on taking the knee, and it was gratifying to hear the one or two lone individuals who decided to boo the gesture drowned out by applause from others in attendance.

In fact, there were far more significant boos at one point in the second half when an event steward saw fit to confiscate a beach ball with was being joyously tossed back and forth over the heads of the crowd. Perhaps it was not deemed to be sufficiently sanitised in line with Covid health and safety protocols.

And so, on with the match, with England looking for a measure of revenge for their opponents' come-from-behind win at the World Cup in Russia.

The hosts started brightly, with Phil Foden - the rising Manchester City star whose haircut paid homage to Euro 96 vintage Gazza - going close to opening the scoring when his curling strike hit the bottom of the post early on.

As everyone got into the swing of things, and more drinks were consumed under the blazing sun, the chants started to go up.

There was the odd rendition of the 2018 classic, to the tune of Atomic Kitten's Whole Again, which insists Mr Southgate is finally set to bring the game home once more. There were also a couple of old classics, like "Inger-land, Inger-land, Inger-land".

Things began to calm down towards the end of the first half, with the referee's whistle calling a halt to the opening period prompting a minor stampede towards the facilities. As I say, there was plenty of beer being consumed.

The biggest cheer of the second half so far went up when the cameras cut to Aston Villa's talismanic captain Jack Grealish warming up on the touchline. "Super, super Jack, super Jackie Grealish," the crowd roared, desperate for someone to inspire England into the lead.

Then it came, Phillips playing in Sterling to put the boys in white 1-0 up. As is now apparently customary at such moments, beers went flying and fans embraced. All strictly within their Covid-mandated tables of six maximum, I am sure.

Minutes ticked away, the crowd sang, and then an explosion of joy at the final whistle. "It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming... football's coming home!"

Suddenly, briefly, it all felt like perhaps lockdown had just been a terrible dream, something which came to descend over us all in such horrendous fashion in the short, dark days of winter, but now expelled by the sunshine, the excitement and a 57th minute winner from a young man who grew up in sight of the national stadium.

Looking out over the hundreds who had gathered to share this match and this experience, it was possible to remember what normal once felt like, and to feel as though we will all get to see it again some time soon.

Watch: England fans celebrate Sterling's winner

Just like a nation awaiting the next step on a roadmap to freedom, the England team knows there are still hurdles to overcome if victory is to be theirs. But after the experiences of the last year and more, perhaps we have learnt that each and every triumph should be savoured as it comes.

The pandemic has shown us what is really important. It has also taught us the value of the trivial, the joy of those ephemeral moments that make life truly worth living.

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