David Cameron isn’t the only one who got a shock in Europe this week.
As nations like Croatia, Iceland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales all made the last 16, Scots fans were left increasingly angry that we hadn’t even managed to qualify for the tournament.
The midweek claim of manager Gordon Strachan that we were better than some teams who are there rang hollow, since we would surely need to be there to prove that assertion.
The tournament itself has provided an eclectic mix of hooliganism and high jinks.
Some fans have let their countries down badly while others, notably the Irish on both sides of the border, have had a rare old time, winning friends wherever they go with humour, civility and general bonhomie.
On the pitch there have been some terrific performances. Michael McGovern, formerly of this parish at Tannadice, gave his manager Michael O’Neill, also an ex-United stalwart, the goalkeeping performance of a lifetime.
The out-of-contract former Hamilton Accies keeper made a string of astonishing acrobatic saves to keep a German attacking wave at bay, as they sought a route past his imperturbable frame. They could breach his defences only once and no wonder his team-mates gave him a standing ovation when he entered the dressing room after the match, which saw Northern Ireland reach the last 16.
It was a heroic show from the goalie that will surely have sealed a big money move to a top club on the back of his outstanding performance, with Southampton currently leading the chase.
Hungary and Portugal served up a sumptuous match which ended 3-3 after a magnificent 90 minutes of swashbuckling entertainment which was a celebration of end-to-end football, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
For me, so far it’s been the march of the small countries which has captured the imagination.
Iceland, supported by over 30,000 fans, around a 10th of their entire population, have shown grit, guts and grim determination to make the last 16.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ9XUFg5DhU
Their second goal in their 2-1 defeat of Austria, a win that saw them qualify, was accompanied by the craziest and most excitable commentary in the history of football by their own broadcaster, Haukur Hardarson, who sounded like he’d won the Euro lottery and had just had the call to give him the good news.
They will now give England a scrap they are unlikely to forget.
The Republic of Ireland gave a heroic account against Italy winning 1-0, with fearsomely tough assistant boss Roy Keane allowing tears to well in his eyes as he embraced manager Martin O’Neill in victory.
Haha beautiful of Buffon to celebrate with Roy Keane and O'Neill pic.twitter.com/jo0diDQTWD
— hash (@hashim0307) June 22, 2016
That rare display of emotion was surpassed though by goal-scorer Robbie Brady, who raced to his brother in the crowd to share an embrace and a flood of tears as the magical moment sank in.
It's a bit of a tear-jerker…
When your brother scores the matchwinner for Republic of Ireland at #EURO2016 #IRL https://t.co/mdyaQO196A
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 22, 2016
So proud! @rtenews visited Amber Brady in school today after big brother Robbie's winning goal for Ireland!https://t.co/bLDxVybtvP
— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) June 23, 2016
Some great moments then and more to come, but my personal favourite has to be Hungarian keeper Gabor Kiraly, the man who allowed grey jogging bottoms to escape the privacy of the living room to become a respectable fashion item again.
