There are some places I simply don't fit in

I’ve witnessed some spectacular jingoistic tribalism exhibited by football fans before, but nothing to compare with things that went on around me on Sunday night. I don’t think there could have been a more unpopular result in football history than Portugal 1 France 0.  The main annoyance levelled at the poor Portugese (aside from the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo in their team) seemed to be that they had ended up lifting the trophy without actually beating anyone along the way. It was all draws, penalty shoot-outs and golden goals, and all against lower-ranked teams made up of part-time goalkeepers and bus drivers. So while the best teams in Europe fought it out on the other side of the draw, they were able to sneak along quietly while playing a standard of football akin to South Suffolk Sunday Schools League. They didn’t really win the trophy, they stumbled over the line and stole it while everyone else was looking elsewhere. Their victory was like someone winning a game of musical statues at a party by being the only person there who didn’t have a sneezing fit when the music stopped.  And that, apparently, is not on. Or “NOT ****ING ON, MATE” as it was eloquently put to me on Sunday while someone breathed the aftermath of fourteen cans of Stella into my face. As far as I can tell, the winners of these events should always be the best team in a tournament, and that should always be England.
I think I’ve got that right.

RC 12-7-16