By Tom Geoghegan BBC News Magazine

Henman and the Dome - favourite subjects to knock

Yes, it's really happened. So often the gallant losers, the English have another sporting success to savour in regaining the Ashes. And after London 2012, does this spell the end for that national pastime, self-doubt?

The sight of Michael Vaughan holding cricket's famous urn in a victory parade was the second episode in a surreal story which began in Singapore on 6 July.

As the International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge opened an envelope and uttered the word "London", a nation fell into disbelief.

In those few seconds, the twin British traditions of losing and negativity took flight across the Channel, leaving the UK open-mouthed in surprise. And this week it was another great rival, Australia, not France, undergoing that very British experience.

The rugby World Cup win didn't have such a lasting influence on the psyche did it? Pierre-Yves Gerbeau Frenchman who lives in UK

Getting the Olympics ahead of the bookmakers' favourite, Paris, knocked a dent in the national habit for sporting failure and project mismanagement, which had long relied on the Dome and - rather cruelly - Tim Henman as its chief witnesses.

Even the English football team's calamitous 1-0 defeat by Northern Ireland could, depending on your loyalties, be viewed as a victory for the UK.

For the sceptics, the sporting heroics in recent years from Kelly Holmes, the rowers and England's rugby team were only gleams of hope amid a prevailing mood of no-can-do, on and off the field.

But basking in the Ashes victory parade the national confidence has returned, says DJ Jono Coleman, one of Britain's best-known Aussie ex-pats, who has lived here for the past 15 years. He senses a renewed belief among the British after years of self-criticism.

Aussie anxiety

"Winning the Olympics was a huge shot in the arm, especially when the days are grey and people are feeling very sorry for themselves and got no money. They switch on the television and everything seems better, so it's probably very good psychologically.

Evidence of national rejuvenation?

"It's an absolute mirror to what's going on in Australia, where everyone's questioning: 'Should we do this, should we start again?'"

The Frenchman once charged with reviving the Dome, Pierre-Yves Gerbeau, says if everything goes to plan, 2012 could be the year the British become winners again, although the sceptics won't be so easily banished.

"You will still have cynics saying 'It will cost millions and it will be late'," he says. "The rugby World Cup win didn't have such a lasting influence on the psyche did it?

"I think it will be more likely to happen if it's a good Olympics in London, built on time with the right infrastructure, then it will have a huge impact on the British psyche - winners against cynics, in 2012."

No more glorious failure...

Just look how the Spanish character was transformed by the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, he says, which infused the country with pride and confidence.

Although it's the English celebrating this week, the Olympics could strengthen a sense of British identity as the nation shares a sense of belonging, says Dominic Abrams, a professor of social psychology.

"This sets the stage for an investment in infrastructure projects so over a long period of time people will become more and more involved," he says. "Therefore there are long-term prospects to build up a national importance and the importance of Britain on the national stage."

But before the British think success is here to stay, a word of warning from Olympic silver medallist Roger Black, who says that although the Games is sure to inspire a generation of athletes, hosting an outstanding Games is easier than winning a gold medal. And even the bid was uncharacteristic in its approach.

"The way the bid team delivered was pretty un-British," he says. "Seb Coe was pretty un-British, as he was as an athlete. He wasn't thinking about how to put together the best bid, he was thinking about how to win it."