Either way, judgments on Arsène say far more about the judges than they do about him — about our comfort with the idea that sport, or football, or life itself, can
be worth our while even if it doesn't
end in victory.
The point
is that the popularity track covers three tiers, and each tier increases the points you get for territories controlled, resources and
victory stars at the
end of the game, so staying
in the population's good books
is really
worth the effort.