Which is the correct answer, it's the hope that kills you.
It must be weird as a young fan, they probably see going deep into tournaments as completely normal. As a Liverpool supporter and someone who has only seriously been watching football for the last 4-5 years my son is a case in point. In that time he has seen Liverpool get to a Champions League final then finish second in the Premier League with a record points haul as well as lifting the Champions League. Then the Premier League title followed. For England he's now seen a World Cup semi-final appearance and is now awaiting a European Championships final. He thinks it's all completely normal.
Prepare for the disappointment in the future son, prepare for it.