With football-induced patriotism at an all-time high, stiff-upper-lipped readers of The Diary will no doubt be relieved to know that national stereotypes remain well and truly entrenched in the backbone of Europe.

During a recent telephone link-up with France, The Diary was, however, surprised to hear an admission straight from the horse's mouth.

When asked how things were at his end, one French lawyer commented: "I hate rude people. And I hate arrogant people. And boring people… the French are often arrogant and rude. And lawyers bore me to death… do you think I am in the wrong job?"