Thank goodness for international football.
Those of us who loathe the infernal interruptions during a season – always, it seems, when our team has a bit of momentum – change our tune when the finals come around.
They fill a hole until the new season starts and there’s no predictable one-horse race at the European Championships.
No Real Madrids nor Man Citys monopolising things – and there isn’t in the World Cup, either for that matter.
The Euros, which kick off when Germany take on Scotland (at 3am Saturday, Malaysian time), have produced eight different winners in the last nine editions.
Even home advantage seems minimal with France being the last host nation to win in 1984.
That was when a certain Michel Platini scored nine – the highest ever goals tally.
There are no points deductions and no one is suing anyone either.
And no sportswashing nor human rights issues: just the small matter of football hooliganism about to rear its ugly head again.
And with the far right riding high in the polls in some European countries, racism could be an accompanying menace: players of colour could face being booed by their own fans.
All that said, on the field, it could be a mid-summer feast to savour with little to choose between five favourites: England, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
There’s a gap then – in the betting at least – to Italy, who are slight outsiders even though they’re defending champions.
Then you’re in dark horse territory – Belgium, Croatia, Netherlands, Denmark – and after that the no-hopers and finally, Albania and Georgia make up the 24 teams.
More than enough to keep us going as the EPL fixtures come out next week and there will be less than a month between the final and the start of the new season.
Among the top talking points: Can England actually win something? Can Germany arrest their decline? Are Spain on the way back? Can Cristiano Ronaldo still deliver at 39?
England find themselves in the unusual position of being favourites.
No, not to bow out on penalties in the quarter-final which, for so long, has been their default destination, but to win a first trophy since 1966.
It’s a shocking record for a nation with so many great clubs, but a combination of bad luck, bad management – they rarely seem to have had the right coach – and a phobia from the spot has always scuppered them.
The latter two were to blame when they were edged in a shootout by Italy at Wembley in 2021, but they are a better side now, albeit still with Gareth Southgate.
Even he appears to have shed some caution by choosing a youthful side with exciting new midfield stars in Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Adam Wharton.
Jude Bellingham appears on his way to superstardom with Real Madrid while in Harry Kane and Declan Rice, there are world-class players in key positions.
The worry is the defence where the quality drops off a cliff and this weakness is bound to be exploited by their opponents.
Recent major tournaments have seen the Three Lions edge closer to that elusive silverware.
As well as that Euro final, they got as far as the semi-final and, yes, quarter-final in the last two World Cups.
But none of this has impressed the fans. Manchester United were aghast when the England boss was linked with the Old Trafford job and no offers have come in for him.
Red Devils are less than thrilled that Erik ten Hag is staying on, but at least it means Southgate won’t be joining.
Another defeat to France in the semi-final, looks as far as they can go.
France look the strongest all-round squad with a surfeit of riches in midfield and the world’s best player in Kylian Mbappe.
Not always motivated at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), he has now joined Real Madrid and will want to put on a show for his new fans.
But behind him it’s the powerhouse line-up in midfield that may prove decisive.
Besides the Real pair of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, and potential breakout star PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery, they’ve included N’Golo Kante.
Whichever trio coach Didier Deschamps chooses, it’s hard to see opponents getting the ball.
It seems weird to write this, but Germany have endured a disastrous recent run at major tournaments.
Knocked out in the group phase at the last two World Cups, they were comfortably beaten by England in the Round of 16 at the last Euros.
Things got so bad, it looked like hosting this tournament was coming at the worst possible moment: their great goalkeeper Manuel Neuer broke his leg skiing, no one wanted to manage and World Cup winners were growing old.
But under Julian Nagelsmann, form has improved of late and they will not want to let their fans down. Neuer is back but not certain of his place. It will take a top team to beat them.
Cristiano Ronaldo was off the field injured when Portugal shocked France in the 2016 final.
They disappointed in 2021, losing to Belgium in the Round of 16, but he will want to make up this time and put his international goals record – currently on 130 – out of sight.
This will be his sixth Euros and you wouldn’t bet against a star-studded team with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto in the line-up.
Spain are not at the level of a decade ago when they won three major tournaments, but have some talented kids including a candidate for the next big thing in Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, not 17 until the day before the final.
Defending champions Italy don’t have the legendary names of old but their clubs’ success in Europe last season suggests that Serie A is coming back and the Azzurri could be dark horses.
It all adds up to a mouthwatering prospect over the next month.
For what it’s worth, France have the best squad, Italy are the best tournament team.
The perfect stage for Mbappe to introduce himself to Real as a Euro winner.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.