The Euro 2004 Thread

I like that "signature", but I really don't understand why some England supporters are so worried, even obsessed, about the other Home Countries supporting them.

I'm really pleased that England are doing well, as you are the nearest thing I have to support there and it's more interesting while England are there, but I don't think England are representing anyone but themselves.

Heavens - if you are in the next World Cup finals, you will have probably beaten Northern Ireland and Wales on the way and helped to stop us qualifying - how could you be representing us!

All the best anyway - but concentrate on your own positive support for your own team and don't worry about indifferent or hostile Celts!

Pretty shocked about this News 24 revelation! Anyhow, some solid presentation from the BBC tonight - a very sound production - although Joe Royle made a couple of bloopers, and somehow confused Frank Lampard with Jamie Redknapp - oh dear

I think Ian Wright, although technically his comments are not great, was a good addition tonight and summed up the atmosphere through his shouting. Maybe it's the fact that England won that I don't mind him so much...

Sorry, but while I'm not as rabid as many of my Scottish counterparts (how some people up here can manage such a hatred of England, even considering the likes of John Motson and Ian Wright, I'll never understand), while I have many English friends (and have had two English bosses), and while I know there are many decent people down south, I just can't bring myself to support you. It's like asking a Rangers fan to back Celtic, a Manchester City fan to back Manchester United, or a Maple Leafs fan to back Ottawa (ask a friendly Canadian). In fact it's worse than the first two. If a rival team in Scotland were to do well in Europe, the country's co-efficient (or whatever the hell it is) would improve. There's no such selfish interest in supporting another country (as FIFA and UEFA see it). And the fear of what would happen if you do win (the Rugby World Cup earthquake coverage would be nothing in comparison) just seals the deal. I know it's childish, and I know you support us, but for yourselves it's very much supporting an underdog, whereas England actually has a chance of winning something.

However, any time England do get a good result, I'm happy for the people I know who are supporting them. I think that's the best you're going to get from me.

Actually, tell you what - get us a Scottish opt-out or at least get rid of Ian Wright, and I'll think about it.

Extremely unlikely (I think most of you will have been busy celebrating - maybe a fellow Celt will have it), but did anyone get a video cap?

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Understand what you say, Gav, but, in my case, Edinburgh is closer to me than London.

I just think that all the different nationalities and countries in the UK are a strength - we benefit from each other, even if it's not obvious all the time.

I have never knowingly met a Manx or a Channel Islander, but I have had nothing but positive experiences with Scottish and Welsh people. In any tournies, I support them and want them to win - except if they are playing England of course.

We English were **** to everyone else on the islands for hundreds of years, but it's not true now and has not been for the last 50 years. I would love to feel as British as I do English.

And it would make me feel British if the non-English nations were supporting us.

Congratulations to England for managing to finish top of the group!

Well done.

Prestentation-wise both BBC and ITV opening titles have a similar idea but the BBC's is much better executed whereas ITV's probably took hell of a lot more work and effort which isnt represented in the final on-screen look. Nice to see how both channels have now incorporated shots of Rooney and co within the opening titles.

Musically the Basement Jaxx track on BBC is nice enough but more setting for a World Cup whereas the ITV soundtrack is starting to grow on me and quite uplifting and bouncy with a touch of the Meditteranean thrown in for good measure aswell.

Onscreen graphics are minimal on both channels where BBC have opted to use their current yellow (grandstand/bbc sport) graphics whereas ITV have adapted the official Portugal Euro 2004 graphics and produced clean and compact graphics.

OVERALL SCOREBOARD

Theme music
BBC 0 ITV 1
Opening Titles
BBC 1 ITV 0
Onscreen graphics
BBC 0 ITV 1

I would score the presenters and pundits but didnt think this was a presentational item and so will not do so.

Yes, Joe Royle was awful: before Scholes scored, Royle was for changing half the team. Hardly into the second half, he was dead against substitutes. Ah, yes, he was such a success as a top-flight manager, too. Had me pining for Sir Trev.

I'll say this too - I have ITV's highlights of the England game on now, and IMHO it's further evidence that Jon Champion is a much more impressive commentator than Clive Tyldsley ever was, is, or is likely to be.

(Sir Bobby as a co-commentator still sounds like he's auditioning for the next series of Last of the Summer Wine, but that's another story.)

erm, they arn't, they finished second!. If France had have drawn they would have finished first.

What's everyone's opinion on Ian Wright then, I'm sure you'd get more sense out of a bloke down the pub, he's like an excited schoolboy with the analysis to match.

Was I hallucinating or was Bobby shown onscreen part way through the first half of the match tonight, I assume by the host broadcasters and I assume by accident!?

Didn't see that so I can't answer, but I believe both the BBC and ITV have been cutting away at some points to show different shots.

You saw Bobby. The BBC have a few of their own cameras there.



Is it safe to presume that the BBC will now be showing the Thursday QF, with ITV showing Friday's?

I don't think the BBC will have willingly shown the ITV summeriser!!! Notice how Motty made no reference to him whatsoever.

The BBC do habe two cameras, but I don't think the Robson shot was their choice.