Crying fan exposes Uefa’s TV tomfoolery

There were still 54 minutes and stoppage time to play in the semi-final of the European Championship between Italy and Germany but the game’s defining images, it’s central theme, had already been captured for eternity.

Mario Balotelli’s second goal was sublime, his decision to rip the blue shirt from his chiselled torso just as celebrated and the contrasting fortunes of two nations were complete when the camera cut to a German fan, flag painted on her cheek, as a single tear escaped her eye.

Commentators commented on it, tweeters remarked on how ridiculous it was for anyone to seemingly give in so completely to despair when more than 35 minutes had yet to be played but all was not as it seemed.