By Beth Rigby, senior political correspondent

It was five-time gold medallist speed skater Eric Heiden who coined the phrase "sports and politics don't mix" over the 1980 protest of President Carter's boycott of the Olympic Games in Moscow.

This decades-old phrase found a new resonance this week as the nation erupted in joy over England's progression to the quarter finals of the World Cup.

The players were there, but representatives of the British state were not after the political and diplomatic crisis between Russia and the UK bled into the World Cup.

A few months ago, when London was embroiled in a vicious war of words with Moscow over the Salisbury poisoning, the government decided not to send any ministers, royals or senior officials to the football tournament.

Ministers argued that the British government should not offer any political endorsement to the Putin regime or any stardust to the tournament by sending chair of the Football Association and heir to the throne Prince William.

Even David Beckham was watching the match on TV.

But that logic felt rather redundant last night as a nation celebrated England's football victory from afar.

A small hamlet of England fans was tucked into a stadium that had morphed into the Colombian capital Bogota. There was not one minister, minor royal or celebrity cheering Gareth Southgate and his boys on.

That sentiment will be more acute should England progress further through the tournament: at a time of national celebration, the prime minister - and the Royal Family for that matter - will look out of step with their people.

It is a real dilemma, and ministers I have spoken to are split on what the prime minister should do.

One tells me that it would look foolish to change position because it would defeat the object of the boycott and also appear as if she was jumping on a glory bandwagon that she once didn't want to board.

But another senior minister said the prime minister would be wise to follow events and reconsider attending should England - whisper it - get to the final.

"We must be seen to stand by our brave boys," said the minister. "They are a long way from home, outnumbered and surrounded."

Of course, there are clear diplomatic and political reasons why senior officials, royals, ministers are not in Moscow. But the public are being swept along by World Cup fever, and they care not a jot about it.

Football is bigger than politics and the England team are on the cusp of going further in this tournament than they have in nearly 30 years.

This prime minister could have an opportunity that has eluded every predecessor since 1966

They are in a hostile country - and could well face the home team. They could do with more support.

Government sources tell me that the policy of not sending ministers or royals to Moscow still stands, but this prime minister could have an opportunity that has eluded every predecessor since 1966: the chance to watch her team play in a World Cup final.

Issuing an order that all Whitehall buildings fly the England flag after the Colombia victory suggests that the prime minister's team understands that this World Cup fever is something they should harness and ride.

That surely means that Mrs May will go out and cheer on our team, regardless of the diplomatic sensitivities; anything else looks mealy mouthed.

Sky Views is a series of comment pieces by Paste BN editors and correspondents, published every morning.

Previously on Sky Views: Tom Cheshire - Rohingya story must stay in focus