Well, didn't euro 2008 burst into life last night. What a game and brilliant football from the Dutch....I’m feeling a big smug as I have them in the office sweepstake, but, no doubts that some fall-outs and bickering will put paid to their ( and my) chances.... 

Before the tournament i didn't feel any excitement ... was it because the Celtic nations didn't qualify, was it because there wasn't any nervousness and stress waiting on England to fcuk up?? No……you know what it is...it’s the same old same old...the same faces that we see week in week out from the comfort of my home and TV.

Now... when I was a lad, the first big tournament i remember was Argentina 1978. I remember the excitement as Scotland left from Hampden by helicopter; however, they were soon to return under armed guard and followed by Wullie Johnson who came back higher than he was the day he left in the Sikorsky…. I remember getting the new Scotland strip with the Umbro diamonds down the sleeve, shorts that just covered your you know what’s and the badge, WTF was that all about?, it was  half as big as the shirt itself and left your nipples (all three of them) in tatters... We are on the march with ally's army…aye right. Do you know there were only 7,938 people at the Scotland Vs Iran match. Must have been a curfew in the Iranian and Scottish quarters of Cordoba that day...

   I remember the passion of the crowds at the Argentinean games and the ticker tape as the teams emerged, what a sight... Of course being the age i was, I wasn't aware of the political background and fall-out as the finals were being played in Argentina. Further controversy ensued as Argentina played all their first round games at night so they would know the score in the other group game and what was required. Followed by the game where they tanked Peru 6-0 in suspicious circumstances and played silly buggers before the final itself, so much so that the Dutch refused to attend any official functions to celebrate the event.  

Zico, Kempess, Ardilles, Platini, Rossi, Zoff, Tardelli, Boniek, Rep, Hann, Cubillas, Rumminigge, Revillino to name a few that graced the final's - Cruyff refused to attend.....Think back and remember the excitement of seeing great players that you have read so much about playing for the first time.. Fantastic.

Zip forward to the year 2008......

Torres, Nasri, Hunntelar, Klose, Del Piero, Pirlo, Ronaldo, Deco, ect ect ect don’t get me wrong great players, great teams and hopefully a great tournament... But for me it’s a case of been there got the replica shirt and “official partner” prawn sandwich.

There are 368 players at this tournament and you can watch 57% of them play live on TV in the leagues of England, Italy, Spain, Germany and Holland week in week out. Another 19% can be viewed from teams in the Champions League and UEFA cup from leagues such as Portugal, Russia and Turkey. That's a staggering 76% of players - where is the unexpected new superstar??? there wont be one…we already know all about him and have signed him in Football Manager.

Has live TV 24/7 ruined football?? no...... Not quite yet, but, we have lost something special that will never be recovered.