1. The emphatic victory was a great signal of intent from Spain. It was also a superb hat-trick from David Villa.

1. The best game of the tournament so far, and the perfect tonic to the snoozefest that was France-Romania. Exciting action from start to finish, attacking football and excellent passing on display.

1. Zzzzzzz. What a load of rubbish. By far the most boring match of the tournament so far.

Not a good night Vienna, but it could have been worse

1. It is not a good idea to give away a stupid penalty three minutes into your opening game as hosts of a tournament.
2. So much for whipping boys. Aside from the first half-hour, the hosts were the better team.
3. Croatia’s pony-tailed physio looks like he would be better suited to a career as a roadie to Slaven Bilic’s band Rawbau. Maybe he is.

He’s a goalkeeper, Jim, but not as we know it

1. What a well worked goal from the centre-back Pepe. He was a more impressive attacking threat than Nuno Gomes.
2. Portugal thoroughly deserved their win having hit the woodwork three times. It could have been four or five goals.
3. David Pleat is obsessed with threesomes. In the first half, he said: “It’s a threesome in midfield.” In the second half: “Turkey converted to a threesome up front.”

1. What a damp squib to get the tournament underway. I felt as disinterested as the Swiss crowd until the Czechs broke the deadlock.
2. Poor old Alexander Frei. He cried his little eyes out (shades of Gazza). The Swiss skipper must know his tournament is over.
3. You would have expected the Swiss supporters to have been a bit more vocal and a bit more excited about the prospect of opening a major international tournament on homesoil. Then again the players were not much better.

We profile the young players set to shine in Austria & Switzerland 1. Mario Gomez (Striker, Germany) Just 22, although he looks older, Gomez has been tipped by many as a dark horse to win the Golden Shoe at Euro ’08. He’s tall, quick, powerful and has good feet, plus he knows where the goal [...]

If you’re planning to play a Euro 2008 fantasy football game, here’s our tips for a winning XI… We allowed ourselves just two players from each nation, and in a 4-4-2 formation: GOALKEEPER Igor Akinfeev (Russia) Under Guus Hiddink, the Russian are very well-organised, and don’t tend to ship many goals. Plus, they’re in a [...]

Following on from yesterday’s Top 15 Ugliest Players, today Pies brings you the Top 15 Sexiest Players, as chosen by a select panel of female fans (and my gay friend Nick). 15. Alessandro del Piero (Italy)

When peace and harmony deserts European Championship squads

They may be good at football, but look at the state of them… 15. Jakub Wawrzyniak (Poland)

The greatest gear that Austria and Switzerland has to offer

1. Holland away
Holland’s powder blue change strip continues the retro theme that Nike have maintained for the last three years or so. The KNVB is looking good as is the band around the chest.

Tuesday’s hottest football gossip

1. Roque Santa Cruz to Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson is to take advantage of Blackburn’s imminent loss of a manager to bid £15 million for their star striker. The move would represent a tidy return on the £3.5 million Rovers spent on the big Paraguayan last summer. [The Sun]

England fail to ignite against TnT

1. That was not worth ten conclusions.

Six of the best shootouts this side of a John Wayne film

1. Holland 0-0 Italy, 1-3 on penalties (Euro 2000)
An exhilarating match followed by an exhilarating shootout. Despite playing with 10 men from the 33rd minute, Holland dominated the match and failed to convert two penalties in normal time. In the shootout Francesco Toldo was the hero as he made three saves (to add to the penalty save he had made in the match itself).

Gavin Peacock is going to be a priest (honestly). Here’s Gav and five other God botherers.

David James A spectator for most of the match. Made one save of note, keeping out a weak Freddy Adu shot. 7 Wes Brown Usually appears less confident for England than his club, and this was no exception. Fine at the back, less so going forward. 5 Rio Ferdinand Perfectly assured, never looked in trouble. [...]

JT and Stevie G sink Team Soccerball

1. It was a decent performance against a poor side – nothing more and nothing less. Did we learn anything? Not really.

Big names who won’t be in Austria/Switzerland next month (from nations that have qualified) Raul (Spain) The Real Madrid captain failed to make the Spanish squad after falling out with head coach Luis Aragones following the 3-2 loss to Northern Ireland in 2006, during the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Will Spain miss him? Probably not, [...]

Meg loves Mig 4eva?

1. Miguel Veloso to Bolton
Gary Megson is hoping to jump the queue to sign Manchester United target Veloso. The Sporting Lisbon midfielder would cost £16 million. [The Sun]

Despite losing the title on the final day of the season and the Champions League only because of a John Terry slip, Chelsea sacked Avram Grant at the weekend. Given that his main downfall (apart from failing to entertain the Roman Emperor sufficiently) was not living up to the charisma of Jose Mourinho, we thought the best way to mark his departure was his top quotes.

How many managers does it take to spend £50 million? None, apparently.

Thierry Henry to Spurs? Surely not…

1. Robinho to Chelsea
The Real Madrid star’s agent has flown to London to generate a transfer to one of the Premier League’s big boys, and Chelsea are front of the key. Real are reluctant to sell, but that will count for little if the pint-sized Brazilian wants to move. [Telegraph]

Six ‘ballers who love to shed the tears.

1. Paul Gascoigne (England)
Famously broke down after picking up a yellow card in the World Cup semi-final in 1990 which meant he would miss the final.

MANCHESTER UNITED
Edwin Van der Sar The hero of the penalty shootout as he saved from Nicolas Anelka. A couple of important saves in the match too. 8
Wes Brown Quietly effective for the most part. Kept Malouda quiet, although the French winger was doing a pretty decent job by himself. 7
Rio Ferdinand Made some crucial interventions especially in the first-half, but got a little reckless as cramp and fatigue set in. 7