Yesterday’s results: France 0 - 0 Romania, Italy 0 - 3 Holland

If until last night we hadn’t witnessed a very good game at Euro 2008, we certainly were treated to a classic from Italy and Holland. There was flowing football from both sides right from the start and those who suspected it would be a dramatic match got confirmation after 26 minutes, when Van Nistelrooy scored a controversial opener.

The Real Madrid and Holland striker slotted home a shot cum-great though ball from his clubmate Sneijder, but he looked very clearly offside and even the Dutch players hesitated to celebrate. However, the assistant referee’s flag stayed down and main referee Peter Frojdfeldt signalled the goal stood. The Italy fans were furious, and even more so when the big screens in Berne’s stadium replayed the goal and seemed very much to confirm that a big mistake had been made.

What they had taken into account, though, and I have to admit my ignorance to this, too, was that the horizontal Christian Panucci, knocked over in a collision with his own goalkeeper, counted as a second defending player under the laws of the game. What most people (and I) incorrectly assumed was that being off the field of play would mean the defender was not in the game. However, to prevent defenders stepping off the pitch to play attackers offside, defending players are still considered to be interfering with play if they go behind the goal line. It does seem unfair though, as Panucci was still coming to his senses after Buffon collided with him and left him stunned on the deck.

No controversy about the second goal, just pure class. Sneijer’s excellent finish was just the final touch of one of the best counter-attack goals I can remember seeing. The fact it was against the world champions with one of the world’s strongest defences makes it even better.

Italy threw everything in to it in the second half. They saw that in pure footballing terms they weren’t going to get the better of Holland on the night, so they hassled and bullied and mixed their power and technique. It looked like they might get a reward for their hard work in the second half, but Van Der Sar’s spectacular save followed by another great breakaway goal, Gio Van Bronckhorst’s header finally making it through Zambrotta’s brave attempt to block, were the sucker punch that floored Italy. Holland got their astonishing win.

Despite my plea for goals at half time in the other match, France and Romania couldn’t muster anything and the match ended as the first draw of the tournament. I’ve been telling everyone that Romania were going to mess someone up and they certainly didn’t do France’s chances any good.

I’ve kept up my run of one correct result a day, but I still haven’t got a scoreline right. how are you getting on with your predictions?

We’re just half an hour away from Spain’s debut in the competition as I write this, and it seems people everywhere are waiting to see if the talented lads of La Furia Roja really have something to show us this time. I went for a 2-1 Spain win, though now I’m wondering if Russia will be able to pull anything out of the bag if they lose a goal. I’m looking forward to this, but I’ll be on the train for most of the first half; hope someone’s got a radio… I’m looking forward to seeing Henrik Larsson back in a Sweden shirt for tonight’s game against Greece. How the Hellenes go about defending their title will be interesting.

Luc’s predictions: Spain 2 - 1 Russia, Greece 1 - 1 Sweden

Yesterday’s final scores: Portugal 2 - 0 Turkey, Switzerland 0 - 1 Czech Republic

Luc’s predictions: Austria 0 - 3 Croatia, Poland 1 - 1 Germany

Well, just four minutes into the game and Croatia have scored against the co-hosts. It was a very clear penalty and Modric slotted it in to give the Croats a great start and Austria a disastrous one. I’ve got a 3-0 for this one; I hope we see more goals. Austria had a decent side in in 1954; they got to the semi finals and eventually took third place. Along they way, they won the World Cup’s highest scoring match 7-5 against their co-hosts of this year’s European Championships, Switzerland. This time, though, they don’t have a decent side and they won’t score seven goals in the whole tournament.

Come on Croatia, two more!

Yesterday, I got one correct result with Portugal’s win over Turkey, but the stylish second goal scuppered my predicted scoreline of 1-0.  In the other game, Switzerland didn’t get the penalty they should have had to level the game.  No surprises so far with the two favourites for Group A qualification in the driving seat after their first matches.

Hi everybody. Well, it has started. Many people are waiting for the highlights of this first game between Switzerland and Czech Republic, I myself missed the first half an hour of this one. By the looks of things, I haven’t missed that much; it’s nil-nil at half time.

Before the game, I predicted this one would finish as a draw, at 1-1. It’s still possible, but the loss for Switzerland of Alexandre Frei is going to harm their goalscoring chances. It sadly looks like being a premature end to the tournament for him, as the unlucky blow to his knee while his studs were stuck in the turf appears to have left him with lateral knee ligament damage. It will be very surprising if he plays again in Euro 2008.

Right the second half is about to begin. Let’s hope for a bit more action from the reds and the whites!

Luc’s predictions: Switzerland 1-1 Czech Republic, Portugal 1-0 Turkey

My favourite quote from the English newspapers today has to be from the Daily Mail - The wally with the brolly!

After yet another poor performance from England under Steve McClaren, (which resulted in England losing 3-2 at home to Croatia and not qualifying for the European Championships next summer) the FA finally sorted themselves out and did what the fans have been asking for months and gave him his marching orders.

We wait and see what wonders the FA come up with now, and reopen the debate whether we appoint a English manager or go down the foreign route again.