Erik ten Hag might have allowed his inner-patriot to enjoy the Netherlands beginning their World Cup charge with an expected victory over Senegal - but from the moment his former Ajax player Davy Klaassen scored nine minutes into added-time it would have been business as usual.
After being sworn in from Amsterdam this summer, Ten Hag made five permanent signings during his first window as Manchester United manager and the club already have one eye on January. Ten Hag might have both, though, as supporters are swept up in Qatar fever.
Colourful scenes in the stands, iconic moments on-field and the world uniting together for another football festival - albeit in unique and unfamiliar surroundings - gives everyone something to savour in these testing times and those involved at the top level domestically can, also, go back to the drawing board and (re) assess.
