The past couple of weeks have seen the whole country gripped, once again, by football fever. And I can now confirm that the entire thing has been a fantastic success.

Firstly for those industrious makers and retailers of all things flag-like these have indeed been halcyon days, secondly petrol stations must have seen a marked increase in trade due to the number of drivers who have upped their fuel consumption with the additional weight and drag of the aforementioned flags and thirdly we have all had the most fantastic opportunity to enjoy that most British of pastimes – moaning.

When it comes to support of our national team it seems that we are fully aware of what we are supposed to do but somehow lacking in the ability to see it through. Even when we have won a game we are keen to emphasise that we played badly, but surely a win is a win?

Maybe my perspective is a little off kilter (I have to confess that football is not a sport that I enjoy watching) but when a whole nation is telling a select few that they’re rubbish, even when they are winning.

How is that supportive? And how does it encourage them to excel?
In short it doesn’t, but it does give us all an excellent opportunity for a good moan.