It was not supposed to be like this. England were not supposed to be heading into their last three group games poring over the permutations for the semi-finals.
They were supposed to be flexing their muscles. They were supposed to be preparing their assault on the trophy.
Perhaps we should have known better. English sport and World Cups have, after all, often made uneasy bedfellows.
Ben Stokes and Mark Wood reflect on England's 20-run defeat by Sri Lanka at Headingley
All-rounder Stokes was left unbeaten on 82 as England failed to chase 233 for victory
But thanks to Friday's unexpected defeat by Sri Lanka at Headingley, Tuesday's game against Australia at Lord's has assumed proportions England hoped it would not.
Lose that one, and the games against India and New Zealand loom as deal-breakers.
England have provided some of the highlights of this tournament: Ben Stokes's catch against South Africa, the batting of Joe Root, the pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, Eoin Morgan's world-record 17 sixes against Afghanistan.
But they have also fallen victim to the only two upsets. The two extremes continue to be an unsettling feature of this highly watchable side.
Yet after all the ground-breaking work of the last four years, after the transformation from global laughing-stock at one World Cup to favourites at another, the possibility that they could miss out on a place in the last four does not bear thinking about.
The odds, it must be said, remain in their favour. Two wins over the next 11 days will almost certainly be enough to qualify.
Eoin Morgan's side have fallen victim to the only two upsets at this Cricket World Cup
Even one win may do the job, given that fifth-placed Sri Lanka are two points behind them, have a vastly inferior net run-rate and must still play India. Bangladesh are in the mix too, and there is still time for a late run from the lower reaches.
Yet the fact remains that England have not beaten any of Australia, India or New Zealand at a World Cup since March 1992, when Ian Botham had one final fling against the Aussies, taking four for 31 and hitting 53 at Sydney.
Incredibly, they haven't beaten the New Zealanders since 1983. During these next three games, they are going to have to lay a ghost to rest, and preferably two.
Deep down, England know they should not be in a position where feeling spooked is even an option. Their defeat at Trent Bridge by Pakistan — a team they had just beaten 4-0 — could probably be ascribed to a dropped catch by Jason Roy, who missed Mohammad Hafeez on 14. He went on to make 84 in a 14-run win.
But to lose to Sri Lanka when they were chasing only 233 felt as if the pressure of a World Cup was doing its work — a phenomenon flagged up before the tournament by Indian captain Virat Kohli.
Back then, England's batsmen were encouraging notions they might breach the 500 barrier. On Friday, even
