We love an underdog - does this make us destined to lose?

One more night of collective heartache watching our men’s national football team come up short in a major international tournament.

- GEMMA ABBOTT

Why do we do it to ourselves? Every tournament, the country whips itself up into a frenzy of misplaced hope and expectancy, and every single time we’re spun around and unceremoniously spat out by our opponent.

Sunday night was the second time the men’s England team have reached a major final since the World Cup in 1966. The last – against Italy at the Euros four years ago – was eerily similar, a spirited performance from a team of superstars but ultimately not enough to clinch the win.

So here we are again: another final, another defeat, another day of wallowing in the aftermath of our national team’s failure. Another “golden generation” fails to pick up any silverware, and England’s reputation as the beautiful game’s great underachievers continues. But let’s not feel too sorry for ourselves. If there’s one thing our nation is really, really good at, it’s losing. And I’m beginning to think it suits us.