Euro 2012: why it’s a great tournament

The Euro 2012 TV coverage has
often mirrored how we all felt

Unless you’re Dutch, I think everyone is in agreement that Euro 2012 has been a great tournament. Even, perhaps, one of the best. A lot of factors have contributed to that, of course: a small number of teams, great stadia, great players and great games. You know, the usual stuff.


But that’s not all. There have been other unexpected delights too. Here are three of my favourites:


1.    The Polish/Ukranian TV coverage


The coverage of games has been epic. From the dizzying, swirling overhead shot that starts each game, to the aerial shots clearly from a blimp in the sky during the game. Both have added drama and spectacle – something difficult to get across in the often-tricky translation from live event to living room.


The use of cameras in the crowd has also been inspired, with the producer showing an unerring eye for a beautiful supporter, face painted with her teams national flag, caught in moments of despair or joy. The eye for the unusual has been great too, surely the best of which was the France fan mirroring most of us as he caught 40 winks as his team faced England.


2.    Seven Nation Army becoming a terrace anthem


I’ve never been a big fan of music to celebrate a goal or try – it all feels a bit American; a bit too OTT for football. It is something compounded by the constant use of Song 2 by Blur or Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis; great songs made annoying by ubiquity.


Not at Euro 2012 though. Some genius has worked out that the opening bars of Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes (NOT Marcus Collins) had the potential to be a terrace anthem. And it really works. Even the England brass band have started playing it during games. And bearing in mind their repertoire has stuck on repeat for decades, that can only be a good thing.


3.    The referees


Yep, the men in black, or yellow, or whatever it is these days. Putting the opening game aside, where Roberto Martinez look-a-like, Carlos Velasco Carballo, brandished cards like confetti, and the bone idle fifth official during the England v Ukraine game (AKA the man with the [white] stick), there have been very few refereeing shockers.


The games have been allowed to flow and only truly bad tackles punished. There definitely seems to be a more tolerant attitude in the refereeing; a hangover, perhaps, from the 2010 World Cup Final where Howard Webb brandished 14 yellow cards.


Of course the leniency has had its victims: Ireland, Denmark and Croatia will all feel hard done by, victims of dubious penalty decisions against favoured teams.


Things I don’t like


1.    Over-zealous ball boys


Now you have to praise ball boys that have been drilled to within an inch of their lives. We may even thank them if their swift work gets England a late equaliser on Sunday against Italy.


But how many times have we seen two balls on the pitch? It’s annoying, stops the game and leads to a ridiculous, uncontested drop ball. Less haste more speed, lads.


2.    The countdown to kick-off


While I can just about accept the goal celebration music (see above), the countdown to kick-off is awful. Do we need it? The spectators aren’t used to it and nor are the players. And what do you do when you have two supporters who speak different languages? It’s pointless and please stop it. Now.


We can only hope that the imminent knock-out matches are as good as what's gone before. There's not been a 0-0 game yet. That fact alone illustrates how great Euro 2012 has been.