If the UK's vote to leave the European Union this week left some on the continent pining for quintessentially British things they might come to miss years from now, the thud and blunder Euro 2016 encounter between Wales and Northern Ireland in Paris on Saturday went some way to disabusing the notion.
Before this last-16 encounter at Parc des Princes, Wales boss Chris Coleman urged his players to detach themselves from the emotion of the occasion and settle into the potent work in possession that scythed down Russia.
He felt Wales were too emotionally involved in their group stage defeat to England and his fears of a similar showing proved valid during the first half - their passing was rushed and overly direct as an intensively well-drilled Northern Ireland defence watched numerous searching balls scoot over a pristine Paris surface for goalkicks and throw-ins.
