Inside Euro 2024

A month of football is in the books and Spain are worthy champions of Euro 2024. As for me, England broke my heart again, and will continue to break my heart...oh well...here's to World Cup 2026 and the same thing happening again.

I'm back in the USA and already missing Germany! Watching the games on TV at home and at the local pub is fun but will never, ever, come close to the real thing. Here are some quick thoughts and observations of the quarter and semi finals.

Red Bull Arena was the perfect location for an epic knockout match between Turkey and Austria. I got to explore the city of Leipzig and pick out some highlights from my last physical day at the Euros.

Cristiano Ronaldo is always the man and at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt he was front and center in a late-night thriller as Portugal and Slovenia slugged it out. I also learned that the slow train sometimes gives the best return for your buck. It's day 18 of the Euros.

From Berlin to Cologne with a mental stop in Gelsenkirchen, the Euros keeps on delivering excitement, thrills, and in England's case complete drama.It was a long day of travel, trains, walks, sprints, and biking in a downpour, however, it was all worth it, because the 'Beautiful Game' is just so beautiful at times.

Day 16 and we're off to the capital of Germany, Berlin. Switzerland takes on Italy, while in Dortmund Germany faces Denmark. I bike and scooter my way around the city, see some sites, watch some footy, and visit the fan fest at the Brandenburg Gate.

The last rest day before the round of 16 begins, and it's time to get Billy Bollox naked with a bunch of strangers at the spa. This regeneration after 13 days straight is much needed and clears my mind for the predictions game. I'll preview all eight knockout ties.

A day off at the Euros and time to explore Cologne, the Euro fan festival, and have some fine Geman food at one of the oldest establishments in the city.

42 years ago international football was shamed when West Germany and Austria cooked the books at the World Cup. Today Slovakia and Romania had the chance to do the same as they could guarantee each other's passage to the knockout round with a sterile draw...instead they served up one of the matches of the tournament amid a biblical storm.

Day 12 and Cologne becomes England for the day as the Three Lions come in their thousands, more in hope than expectations after the last few performances. Today I catch up with some long-suffering fans to get their opinions and find out how they've made the journey to Germany.