Penalty

– Not long now till it all kicks off.
– Sorry?
– The World Cup.
– Hence kicks off.
– Yes. I quite like to add a few colourful allusions as I go along. Makes the conversation sparkle. A bit.
– Of course. Yes, not long till it kicks off, as you say. The media seem a little subdued, perhaps, compared to previous tournaments.
– I think it is a reflection of a more realistic outlook.
– You mean no-one expects England to do very well?
– Yes. It sounds harsh, but perhaps it is preferable to the wild optimism of past campaigns.
– When we would convince ourselves at the start that we were certain winners, only to suffer the humiliation and shattered dreams of an early exit?
– Exactly. Whereas this way, any victory, no matter how humble the opposition or fluky the winning goal, will seem like an immense achievement, and we can hold our heads up high as we catch the early flight home.
– Sometimes in life it is better to be optimistic, even though you run the risk of failure and its associated heartbreak.
– Yes, but in this case the risk of failure is quite high.