Here in Ireland the fear was voiced, in some quarters, that this tournament would be somehow devalued by Ireland’s failure to qualify. Similarly, across the pond, the failure of England (and indeed any of the ‘home nations’) to make it was almost heralded as an opportunity to shelve football until the premiership dusted itself off in August. There was a general pre-tournament air that Euro 2008 would pass off without incident of any note and normal business could resume once the players ‘we know’ returned to our screens.

In order to maintain some level of interest many of the pre-game build ups were to focus their attentions on those players who play in the Premiership - often unmindful of the fact that quite a proportion of the bigger names have been relatively quiet this tournament (are you listening Cristiano?). We’re so used to games being hyped up, to Super Sundays and ‘top four’ clashes, that this has been something of a hard-sell for some broadcasters. Indeed, the BBC’s Gary Lineker introduced the Switzerland versus Turkey match as "the one we’ve all been waiting for" in the most ironic tones. That it turned out to finish in the most dramatic fashion and launch Turkey on a path to semi-finals (at the time of writing) underlines the fundamental dearth of respect that (the rather likeable) Mr. Lineker has for other nations and their ability to play the English game.

And so, I have watched most of Euro 2008 on RTÉ 2 and I have been most impressed. Despite the fact that their pundits are all former footballers who played in England, the great thing about RTÉ’s broadcasting of the tournament is that it has been delightfully unblinkered by the narrow focus of the Premiership or any single league for that matter. RTÉ have managed to bridge the gap (where possible) between the Premiership and the European footballing world at large. Giles is there with his honesty and wisdom, Dunphy is still stirring it up and Brady’s knowledge and appreciation of what is often called ‘continental football’ keeps a nice balance.

Then there is Souness who would appear to have finally understood that he can almost say anything that he wants to say and Whelan who is growing into the role. It was Whelan, in particular, who alerted everyone to the prospect of watching the Russian Andrei Arshavin in action (pronounced Ar-shaa-veen, Shearer on the BBC managed to make it sound like ‘arse-shaven’): it is refreshing, as always to hear a player’s virtues being extolled who has yet to grace (or be graced by) the Premiership. Souness has managed to display a knowledge of Turkish football too which has become (unpredictably) appropriate and pertinent. Billo has been the magnificent anchor as ever.

On another front, the commentators have surpassed themselves (with the possible exception of Darragh Maloney who always sounds like he wishes it was GAA). Both Hamilton and a rejuvenated Magee have allowed themselves to enjoy the matches and actually get excited in games that don’t involve countries we’re supposed to love or hate. The latter is back to his eighties best, wrapping his choppers around names such as Pavluchenko. In fairness, neither Hamilton nor Magee has ever shied away from the prospect of a multi-syllabic Slavic moniker or even the odd potential minefield: Austrian Ivanschitz comes to mind. Co-commentators Houghton, Kinsella and Cunningham will appeal or not to different people and have their faults but, like so many other former Irish players, they have shown themselves to be capable talkers when the talking is about football.

Some people seem astonished that the tournament is so much fun despite the absence of a team from these islands but I am inclined to think that it is because of this factor that the tournament is so much more enjoyable. We no longer have to endure conversations about one team, how any given team would fare against them, how their training sessions are going or how their wives and/or girlfriends are generally being crass. No, in this tournament we get to enjoy football for its own sake - last minute equalisers and winners from Turkey (Fergal’s Opera) or old nags resuscitating themselves (Gobsheen’s Italy). We’re even getting to see some cliché’s fulfill themselves in Germany’s relentless progress. I’m watching this one through the prism of RTÉ but I’m really enjoying something that happens all too infrequently for my liking - a great football tournament for football fans where the star is football.

Super Euro Soccer Party? Most definitely!