Having arrived on Monday, it was strange to finally watch some football last night. Fun though it was, it soon dawned on me that admirable as my intentions are to just enjoy this festival of football for what it is, I’m going to have to follow a team.

I was willing the Swiss on but watching Alex Frei end his, and in all probability Switzerland’s tournament, reminded me that being so distant from the emotions really wasn’t really all that fun. The point was driven home when watching Portugal vs Turkey in the Fanzone. I couldn’t muster much satisfaction from watching thousands of fans express their relief when the consequences had little to do with me.

With this in mind I’ve decided that my team is going to have to be Germany, much to the chagrin of many an England fan. As an avid Bundesliga viewer I feel invested and perhaps it’s just a continuation of the latent feelings that burst out when Oliver Neuville converted Odonkor’s cross in injury time against Poland in 2006. Perhaps it’s apt that they are playing again this evening and the possibility of rekindling my blood lust for putting a few past weak opposition.

The summer has finally arrived in Zürich today and yet the atmosphere is somewhat muted. You could see the pain in Platini’s face when the Czech Republic scored, as no amount of corporate activities and marketing slogans can so quickly and powerfully trigger a national carnival quite like a host nation victory. The tournament kicks off in the city tomorrow with France against Romania and I’m looking forward to seeing a full Letzigrund and the general hum of excitement that comes on match day.

Until then, we’ll have to put up with Germany making relatively easy work of Poland (who, if we remember, were Kevin McCarra’s tip as dark horses) and a lively if stuttering and ultimately failing performance from Austria against Croatia.