But given that Albanian nationalism is unmistakably a rising force in south-eastern Europe, it is helpful to have some guide to its leading personalities.
The result puts more pressure on the Gulf nation's coach Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro, who was failed to guide the team to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Therein lies the pleasure of wine travel in this tiny South American country: distinctive wines and intimate, personalised visits that guide you to the heart of the winemaking process.
In fact, south of the border the dish is something of an embarrassment: a 1950s epicurean guide to Central America defined it as "a detestable food passing itself off as Mexican, sold in the US from Texas to New York".
While no proposal to lift the ban is on the table at next week's Cites meeting in Bangkok, the South African government is said to be investigating the issue and says that discussions in the Thai capital will guide their position.