While the rest of mankind rejoiced after basking in an absolute corker of a World Cup final, you might not be surprised to learn that the match wasn’t enough to lift Graeme Souness from wallowing in his own little puddle of grief.
‘Analysing’ the game as part of BeIn Sport’s Panel from Hell™, Souness was the very picture of sour-faced gloom as he watched France’s excellent young team storm to an enthralling 4-2 victory over Croatia.
As Paul Pogba dabbed with the World Cup trophy after putting in a truly exceptional performance, Souness was left to gripe about the “bad taste” Les Bleus’ victory had left in his mouth – which perhaps explains why he looked like grumpy middle-aged bulldog licking Dettol off a nettle…
“It leaves a bad taste…”
Souness says #CRO were robbed in the #WorldCupFinal.#beINRussia #beINFWC pic.twitter.com/SG3WFJQiNx
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) 15 July 2018
Draining, isn’t he?
Of course, the post-match moaning didn’t end there, with Souness also berating Croatia for not hassling and hounding the referee at every turn like a “Latin country” would…
Souness say #CRO “nice guys” lost because they should have “hounded the referee” after the 1st goal.#beINRussia #beINFWC #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/0xR5lg0sNc
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) 15 July 2018
Pogba was also on his mind as VAR (and the referee… again) was given both barrels.
“VAR highlights it… it gives him a chance to be a bad referee.”
Souness hammers the #WorldCupFinal official!#beINRussia #beINFWC pic.twitter.com/YqFrlH9Wvf
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) 15 July 2018
And so on, and so on.
Of course, Souness can’t abide or understand players like Pogba because they represent the very antithesis of his anti-joy world view.
How can a footballer possibly be knuckling down and playing to the best of his abilities if he’s visibly smiling and expressing himself in a manner that doesn’t involve carving studs into opponents’ shin bones?
What a miserable caricature he has become.
As we said, draining.