Fabio Capello is determined to make his England World Cup dream come true.
Despite his impressive coaching CV, the 63-year-old will break new ground tonight when he sends a team into action at the greatest international tournament of all.
Victory over the United States in Rustenburg tonight will set the Three Lions up for a smooth passage into the knockout stages, the next stage in Capello's bid for glory.
"It was a dream to be England manager and I hope the next dream comes off too," said the Italian.
"It is fantastic. It is exciting.
"It is a tough job. Behind me there is a whole country.
"I have to live with this pressure."
The good news is the sign of all that expectation getting to Capello by the brusque manner with which he attacked a photographer in training on Wednesday has given way to the usual calm veneer.
As D-day approaches there is no room for hesitation, or lack of belief.
For Capello, all that has gone before in a career that includes Champions League triumphs, Serie A and La Liga titles would pale into insignificance if he were to lead the Three Lions to glory in Johannesburg on July 11.
"It would be my biggest achievement," he said.
"Always, I am focused to win. Always, I look ahead.
"I have built teams and worked with teams. All that matters to me is to win. We play to win.
"I exist to win."
Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday declared Capello to be the most important man in the country.
For two hours tonight that will be exactly right.
A feeling has persisted for quite some time that if Capello had been in charge between 2001 and 2006, when the so-called Golden Generation were at its peak, England would have ended their long wait for a trophy.
Instead, the 63-year-old must work with what he has got, which is not quite what he hoped for given his failed attempt to get Paul Scholes to perform a retirement U-turn and the lateness of his move to secure the services of Jamie Carragher and Ledley King.
Now we are about to find out whether he can get the right tune, admitting the conductor can only do so much.
"I have always said that a manager is important, he has his worth," he said.
"But without good players you cannot win. Either you have a band or you have an orchestra."