For Joe Montana, it has always been just a fingertip away.
It is a 3-3 series with the tie-breaker, the clincher, now just a fingertip away.
Atlético had been a fingertip away from winning the league on the penultimate weekend, their players departing the field with a haunted look in their eyes.
Dortmund were clearly in the ascendancy but any thoughts the tie was done and dusted were nearly silenced when their goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller had to fingertip away Fernandinho's cross-shot shortly before half-time.
In 2011 there were also breakthrough performances by Ellen Gandy, who was a fingertip away from gold in the 200m butterfly, and Hannah Miley, who won silver in the 200m individual medley.
Littler was only a fingertip away from his hat trick after Karl Fitzpatrick's high kick just ran dead and then he squandered a glorious opportunity by fumbling a Wilshere pass with the line open after Dunemann had again sparked the attack.
They're positioned 33rd in the Fifa rankings, which is one place below 1950 and 1958 finalists Sweden, one ahead of 1934 and 1962 finalists (sort of) the Czech Republic, two ahead of 2002 semi-finalists Turkey, three ahead of seven-time African champions Egypt, four ahead of Ghana, who were a fingertip away from the 2010 semis, and 14 ahead of Hungary, the 1938 and 1954 runners-up.
Tom Guest was a fingertip away from pulling off a sensational interception but James Johnston's inability to roll away handed the Bath number 10 his third shot at goal.
Watkins was a fingertip away from gathering Sinfield's chip to the corner two minutes later, but France responded with a spell of pressure that had the hosts scrambling.
A fingertip away from glory.
