LONDON -- More than 40,000 Britons have made a special trip to Portugal for a two-week European festival while, back at home, tens of millions of others are following the festival, alternatively rejoicing and groaning, on television screens in pubs and bars, city centers and homes. Euro 2004 is the most popular event since the World Cup in Japan and South Korea two years ago -- far bigger than the Olympic Games. It has brought out national flags flying from almost every car and many homes in the country.

Yet, in the British Parliament nearly two weeks ago, leading politicians of all parties denounced Europe with a venom that might lead one to think it was a partner in U.S. President George W. Bush's "axis of evil." They were following the line of most of the popular press, which has attacked European leaders' approval of a constitution for an expanded European Union as a wicked conspiracy to steal all of Britain's most cherished freedoms. Although different events, Euro 2004 and the agreement on the constitution illustrate the dangerous schizophrenia in Britain toward Europe.

On one hand, the Brits were proud to celebrate the progress of their soccer team (until the loss in the quarterfinals to Portugal on Thursday) and to go on holiday in droves to Europe to enjoy the better beaches, the finer wines and cuisine, and the pleasures of common European civilization.