IT IS commonly accepted myth that us Brits are pessimists.

We're definitely seen as a nation of “glass half empty” folk, always inclined to look on the black side of every situation.

With our notorious dry sense of humour, love of sarcasm and obsession with planning for the inevitable bit of bad luck that ALWAYS seems to come our way, it would seem that this perception is right.

However, one thing our dismal exit from the World Cup has proved is that us as a nation of pessimists could not be further from the truth.

I know none of us really believed we'd make it through the group stages — but we always allowed ourselves the tiniest glimmer of hope.

I watched our Italy defeat at Papa Lavender's. He originally tried to ban red wine from the living room — but then remembered how much, as a collective family unit, we love the stuff, and tried to ban cheering. That lasted for about five minutes.

And I don't think we were alone in cheering on our boys in Brazil at the top of our lungs. Even when we were beaten, we still took many positives from the performance in Manaus.

Yes, we'd lost, but the nation started to believe.

Then, last Thursday, against Uruguay, the country had full blown faith. Yes, we might have been one nil down but when Rooney FINALLY booted that ball into the back of the net, I, and I expect the rest of the nation, started to think we'd not only manage a draw, but could win the match.

Even when we failed miserably, hope remained. All we needed was for Italy to win their remaining matches and we'd go through.

It didn't matter that no team in the history of the World Cup had got through the group stages after losing their first two matches — we were optimistic.

It turned out this was totally misplaced and once again, as it was after the Olympics two years ago, the country claims to have had enough of millionaire footballers.

But another sporting event has now started — Wimbledon — and once again we'll be backing our boy in the hope he'll be victorious for the second year running.

And this national optimism isn't just reserved for sporting events.

Each and every summer we all truly believe we're set for a barbecue season. Fine, the weather hasn't been too bad this year so far, but let's be honest, this is the UK — grey skies and rain is our default weather setting.

And there are many, many things we're super optimistic about.

No, we're not as hyper-actively positive as our American cousins, and yes, we ARE a nation of sarcastic so and sos. But if we're ever accused of being pessimists again — we know it's rubbish.