What About a Rubber Egg?

Russian home to catch day one.

It’s the best bit of any summer tournament, week 1. More matches every day, surprise packages and new folk heroes. Everyone has something to play for. Just a shame I don’t finish work until half way into the first half… Driving heroically through Manchester’s 2 day monsoon and utilising a combination of modern technologies though I’ve got my fix of the day’s action.

Everyone’s dark horses didn’t disappoint with an impressive performance against the Czechs, some fluid, simple football that will give most teams in the tournament something to think about. We all love to watch football the way Russia play it so here’s hoping that they can take it to the better teams in the latter stages with equally entertaining results.

All is not lost for the Czechs though, I can still see them coming through the group after the Poland Greece game did little to boost either teams hopes of progressing. In terms of quality, the matches were poles apart, if they can dust themselves down quickly and move on from the Russia result they shouldn’t have too much trouble securing the results needed to progress.

What a refreshing change during match 2 to see, or not to see, theatrics from players littering the game. I thought it was noticeable that players stayed on their feet and the game benefitted from this, flowing nicely from end to end, a benefit that should also heap praise in Howard Webb’s direction. He again showed himself to be one of Europe’s top officials in the way he let’s the game flow and develop naturally.

In the battle of the TV channels it’s ITV nosing in front over the early stages, their balcony studio is a master stroke really allowing the atmosphere to come across. Looks like most of the BBC’s squad are still in Salford… Not good enough. Still time to earn valuable points though, first one to announce the return of Baddiel and Skinner WINS.