So it looks like England will not qualify for the European Football Championships next year. Someone had computed this will probably cost the economy £1.25bn. Not just because of less beer drunk, fewer holidays to the Alps booked and less money spent on St. George flags. People, it is said, will be less happy and therefore be less productive.

The Netherlands, on the other hand, are quite likely to qualify. (Even the ever-surprising Dutch team must be able to win a game against either Luxembourg or Belarus.) So, it seems, I’ll be a very happy and productive employee, especially since, I’ll have an even happier home situation: Greece have qualified already.

Do you think it’s too early to ask for a raise?