The pundits have thus far interpreted the game. The point, however, is to win it.

For sixty minutes, England appeared to have a strategy of losing the ball as soon as they reached the final third of the pitch. Then a petulant lad thought it was acceptable to push your opponent in temper. (Just like a petulant predecessor did with a kick against Argentina eight years ago.)

From then on, England decided to play their best football of the tournament until the final, and then the very final, whistle, whereafter they fluffed the penalty shoot-out and exited the tournament.

My love for football grew deep and passionate on the terraces of London Road, Peterborough. I've never been to a (men's) international match and I have no intention of doing so. But I've 'followed' (from the armchair or the bar stool) England all my life, figuring that they are my local team in international football in the same way that Peterborough are in League football.

And I can think of no other profession where people are paid so much to torment, torture, punish, hurt and disappoint the people who cheer them on. (Actually, maybe the Royal Family, but that's not exactly a profession, and the people who cheer them on are naive and sad, rather than lovers of a beautiful game.)

I used to rate Frank Lampard, but he's had only two shots on target in the whole tournament, and both were so weak that the goalie could have saved them without getting off the team coach. And he lives in a bloody mansion. Bring back the maximum wage.

The truth is, though, that the torment and hurt is one of the great things about the game. It wouldn't be the same without the highs and lows.

I can't help noticing that the "lefties" who reckon that others should not support England because it's somehow reactionary are, in general, not football lovers.

Good luck to Portugal fans, have a great night out, well done to the team. But members of the anyone-but-England brigade who revel in the team's defeat are actually revelling in the hurt and disappointment of England fans, who - with some right-wing, bigoted exceptions - are generally decent working-class people. And I don't see anything socialist about that.