THERE are those who turn their nose up at the large number of cars sporting the updated version of furry dice - the red cross on a white background of St George.

But they are missing the point. The flag is not the exclusive preserve of the boy racers in their souped-up Saxos shuddering to the rhythm of a tuneless drum beat. No, middle England has reclaimed its flag from the shaven headed, tattooed racist brigade and that is a source of some celebration, whatever the fate of our football team taking place in Portugal.

Travel abroad, particularly to France, and you will find the national flag is a source of pride, flying from every municipal building. In contrast, over here the flag was kept tucked away in a cupboard, to be brought only at grave moments of crisis, unseen other than for uncomfortable rallies involving the far right extremists.

Alas, not everyone who wraps himself in the flag covers himself in glory. In Portugal handcuffed and hung over hooligans whinge about heavy-handed police tactics and plead their innocence. Incredibly, courts offer them a flight on the next plane home rather than an extended stay in a local prison.

That will be the big question once this World Cup is over. Will the flag become more widespread, a symbol of civic and national pride?

Or will it go the way of the furry dice?