This is something you notice during the World Cup, too. Especially if you live where the games are shown at night, and become regular viewing.

The First Day with No Games.

For 16 consecutive days, the 2012 edition of the European Championship had featured at least one game. For the first 12 days, it was two. For the first eight, it was games back to back.

If you live in a soccer country that is interested in the European game — and that would be “most of the world” — you watch the European tournament. You just do. Lots of people are talking about it. It’s live programming. You watch.

In my case, I had a professional interest, of course, and I saw some of the Euro games while helping with the production of the The National’s sports section.

As television, it certainly is better than summer reruns. (Even the odd 0-0 draw.) And you find yourself with a rooting interest in Poland versus Russia, Greece versus the Czech Republic, etc.

It becomes part of your routine … and those of lots of people around you.

When riding home in a cab at 10 or 11 at night, I have seen every hotel lobby and restaurant on Muroor Street, from 15th to 17th streets crowded with people (well, men, anyway) watching the soccer.

The UAE is a late-night country, especially in the summer, and many guys appear to prefer to watch their soccer in the company of friends.

So, after 16 days, right through the quarterfinals … the games stopped. Nothing tonight. Nothing tomorrow.

What the?

It is the same for the World Cup, except the streak of days-with-games is even longer. At the 2010 World Cup, games were scheduled for 19 consecutive days.

And, curiously, games at both South Africa and Poland-Ukraine, began at about the same time here for most of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Warsaw and Johannesburg are two hours behind the UAE; Kiev is one.

Now, two days off until two days of semifinals … then two more off until the final.

And then, we will have to find some other form of entertainment, and something else to amuse us (in places like this where they do not know the comfortable drone of the baseball season) … right up till the London Olympics begin on July 27.